Arsenic in Indo- Gangetic Plain of India: A Review

Abstract

India is a country of different physiographic regions. Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), also
known as “Great Plains” in one of the main physiographic part of India. IGP is also a great
reservoir of fresh ground water.Rapid growth of population,urbanization,industrilisation and
over- exploitation of ground water is now creating a critical scenario for human health as
increasing Arsenic quantity in groundwater of IGP. West Bengal,Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
(Parts of IGP),have maximum Arsenic contamination.There are 79 blocks in 8 districts of
West Bengal,57 blocks in 15 districts of Bihar and 45 blocks in 9 districts of U.P., are
affected by the Arsenic contamination. Arsenic contaminatioin can be reduce by using surface
water sources,tapping alternate aquifer and rain water harvesting.There is a need to aware
the community about Arsenic and its related problems.There is a need of high technology
and improved research for knowing the exact sources and mechanism of Arsenic mobility in
the aquifers of IGP.
This paper is chiefly an overview of Arsenic contamination in IGP regions of India
(West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh), based on secondary data, previous surveys and
works done on it by several Govt. agencies and scholars