Gurgaon, India, March, 2004 – Ghaghas is one of the villages at the foothills of Aravali, in rural Haryana. Over exploitation of ground water in this region has lead to ecological imbalance in this region. Water experts from the Sehgal Foundation had tested the ground water and found that the water contained high levels of nitrates and fluorides which are harmful. The test results showed 100 mg/l nitrates and 1.5 mg/l fluorides, whereas the acceptable levels by the Government of India are 45 mg/l and 1 mg/l respectively. Generous use of fertilizers have also contributed to high levels of nitrates.

Harmful Nitrates and Fluorides

It has been medically proven that excess nitrates in the body causes "Methaemoglobinaemia", symptoms of which are fatigue, headache, dizziness and tachycardia, haemolytic anaemia which can lead to kidney failure, coma and seizures.

High fluoride leads to fluorosis which is mottling of dental enamel, it also causes nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, Tetany, and cardiovascular collapse.

Remedial Measure

One way to bring down the chemical level is by percolating the clean rain water into the ground and increase the water level before it flows through the fields picking-up the nitrates content on the surface. In this area, though water is not in abundance the average rainfall in a year is about 500 mm. A lot of this rain water gushes down through the valley due to the steep terrain and can not be contained. Judicious use of fertilizers by the farmers is an other way to reduce the nitrate content.

The Foundation organized a community meeting to discuss the concept of constructing a check dam at a strategic location. A "Ridge to Valley" approach, as the best water management strategy, was explained. After two months the community flagged the project and offered their contributions in cash or kind.

As monsoons were approaching and there was less time for constructing a permanent check dam, a temporary check dam was constructed to capture the monsoon rains. Villagers' were thrilled to see vast amount of water that was collected in the dam. There was about 60,000 kilo-liters of rainwater accumulated in the dam. Later, a permanent structure was construction and is now awaiting the second monsoon.

A second test was conducted after the percolation of the collected water and the results showed significant difference - 18 mg/l nitrate and 0.6 mg/l fluoride. This proved that the water quality was at par with both Indian and International standards. Depth of the reachable ground water heaved from 58 feet to 40 feet within one monsoon season. Villagers noticed that the difference in the taste of water too. This was evident when Jumma Ram, a villager in Ghaghas remarked "Pehle paani bahut khara tha, ab tho iska swadh me meethapan hai" (water tasted satly before but now I can taste the sweetnesss in the water).

This successful model is set to be the precedent for expanding check-dam construction in the neighbouring villages. A second phase of the dam construction has begin early this year in Ghaghas.

For further information please contact:

The Sehgal Foundation
Dr. (Ms) Ellora Mubashir;
289, Sector 17A,
Gurgaon, Haryana-122001, India