Presence of toxic metals in State rivers higher than permissible limits

Study conducted by the Central Water Commission

A recent study by the Central Water Commission found presence of more than one toxic metal beyond permissible limits in rivers of Telangana, sounding alarm bells for the health of water resources in the State, more so with regard to rivers flowing through sanctuaries and wildlife areas.

The study report was published after analysing the samples from a total 688 river water quality stations functioning in the purview of the CWC. It has multiple references of rivers such as Godavari, Krishna, Kinnersani, Wyra, Musi and Peddavagu in terms of toxic metal pollution.

Samples collected from Godavari river at Bhadrachalam, top the list by revealing traces of a total four toxic metals - arsenic, cadmium, nickel and iron - beyond the permissible limits.

Peddavagu, a tributary of the Godavari flowing through wildlife areas of the Asifabad district, revealed higher than allowable presence of iron and nickel in its samples collected near Gandlapet village of Nizamabad district. Similar is the case with the samples analysed from Wyra river at Madhira of Khammam.

Kinnerasani, another tributary of the Godavari, displayed higher traces of chromium and nickel, in its samples from Sangam village of Khammam. Manjira, the drinking water source for Hyderabad, too was found to have higher than permissible limits of nickel.

Across the country, water samples collected at 187 stations proved to have presence of two or more toxic metals beyond the permissible limits, while those collected at 180 stations were found within the permissible limit for all purposes, the report said.

In Telangana, samples were collected from 13 sites altogether, and the time period for collection was between August, 2018 and December, 2020.