Ropar, September 28: A pilot study by Panjab University’s Geo-Environmental Research Laboratory, in collaboration with Baba Farid NGO, has revealed alarming levels of metal contamination in Ropar district, raising serious public health concerns. Four villages—Noohon, Ratanpura, Duburji, and Lohgarh Fidde—located around the Ropar thermal power plant, were identified as most affected, with residents reporting declining water quality and rising health problems.
The report, submitted to the Punjab State Human Rights Commission, found that nearly 19.35% of blood samples from children in these villages contained lead levels exceeding the World Health Organization’s safe limit of 3.5 µg/dL. Additionally, 39% of hair samples indicated unsafe concentrations of lead. Groundwater testing showed that one out of 13 samples collected from the four villages exceeded both WHO and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) permissible uranium limits, raising fears of long-term contamination in local aquifers.
The study attributed the contamination primarily to industrial emissions and fly ash from power plants and cement factories in the district, with the Ropar thermal plant under particular scrutiny. In recent years, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) imposed a Rs 5 crore penalty on the plant for polluting surrounding areas due to inadequate waste and fly ash management.
Residents said the findings validated long-standing concerns. “For years we have been complaining about foul-smelling water and frequent illness among our children. Now there is scientific evidence that our fears were justified,” said Gurdev Singh, a resident of Lohgarh Fidde. Villagers have demanded the immediate installation of functional RO systems in schools and anganwadi centres and stricter enforcement of pollution norms against industrial units.
Deputy Commissioner of Ropar, Varjeet Singh Walia, assured that authorities are taking the matter seriously. “We are awaiting a detailed order from the Human Rights Commission. The concerned authorities have already been asked to initiate appropriate action. No compromise will be made on public health,” he said.
The Punjab State Human Rights Commission, chaired by Justice Sant Parkash, described the findings as a grave public health crisis and a violation of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Commission has directed state authorities, including the Chief Secretary of Punjab and the PPCB Chairperson, to submit compliance reports and a detailed action plan by December. It has also recommended establishing dedicated toxicology departments in government hospitals, ensuring immediate availability of chelation therapy for heavy metal poisoning, and conducting urgent inspections of industrial units in Ropar.
Environmental activists warned that without strict monitoring and regular water testing, rural areas reliant on groundwater could face worsening conditions. Medical experts noted that exposure to lead and uranium can cause irreversible brain damage, behavioural disorders, cognitive decline, and developmental issues in children.
With villagers anxiously awaiting government intervention, attention is once again focused on the Ropar thermal plant and its adherence to pollution control measures.
