NGT expands uranium contamination case to Delhi, issues notice to DPCC, Delhi govt over groundwater quality concerns
New Delhi, July 10
The National Green Tribunal has expanded proceedings in a suo motu matter concerning uranium contamination in groundwater, directing that the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the Government of NCT of Delhi be impleaded as respondents after taking note of a report indicating that 13 to 15 per cent of groundwater samples in Delhi were contaminated with uranium beyond permissible limits.
A Bench comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad directed the Registry to issue notices to the newly added respondents, DPCC through its Member Secretary and the Delhi government through its Principal Secretary (Environment).
The Tribunal also directed its office to place on record an Indian Express report dated November 28, 2025, which referred to findings of the Central Ground Water Board's (CGWB) Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2025.
The Tribunal was hearing an original application initiated on the basis of a news report titled "Uranium Detected in Breast Milk Across 6 Districts of Bihar: Study". During the hearing, counsel for the Central Ground Water Commission sought six weeks' time to file a reply, stating that the response was under consideration in the Ministry.
According to the newspaper report extracted in the order, the CGWB's Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2025 found that 24 out of 83 groundwater samples analysed in Delhi exceeded the prescribed uranium parameters, amounting to roughly 13.35 to 15.66 per cent of the samples tested. The report, based on nearly 15,000 groundwater samples collected across India during 2024, also indicated that several monitored locations in Delhi exceeded Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) limits for drinking water on multiple parameters.
It further identified north-western India, including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, as hotspots for uranium contamination due to geogenic factors, groundwater depletion and aquifer characteristics.
The Tribunal also referred to contamination of nitrate and fluoride in Delhi's groundwater and noted the observations in the report emphasising the need for regular monitoring and local mitigation measures to protect drinking water quality and public health.
During the proceedings, the NGT also recalled its earlier order dated December 20, 2022, passed in a separate suo motu matter relating to uranium contamination in Bihar's groundwater. The Bench observed that the issue under examination was not new as far as Bihar was concerned.
The earlier proceedings had recorded the findings of a joint committee that uranium concentration in Bihar's groundwater was generally within normal natural variation, while directing authorities to maintain vigilance at locations where uranium levels exceeded permissible limits and ensure safe drinking water to residents. The matter has now been listed for further hearing on September 24.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I moved to Delhi for work last year, and this is terrifying. I trusted the water filters and delivery services, but now I wonder if they even test for uranium. The NGT should mandate public water testing camps in each colony. We deserve transparency!
If even Bihar with its rural areas has uranium in breast milk, what about us living in urban jungles like Delhi? The CGWB report is an eye-opener. I hope the NGT ensures regular monitoring and that the Delhi government allocates budget for purification plants before it's too late.
This is alarming. As an expat living in Gurgaon, I often drink tap water after boiling, but now I'm rethinking. The hotspot in north-west India including Delhi is worrying. The government needs to inform citizens about contamination levels locality-wise and supply safe drinking water in affected zones.
Finally some action! I've been reading about uranium contamination in Punjab and Rajasthan for years, but Delhi always escapes scrutiny. The NGT should also look into the correlation with groundwater depletion—extracting too much water leads to higher uranium concentrations. Hope the September hearing brings concrete steps.
While I appreciate NGT's intervention, it's frustrating that they give six weeks for replies each time. Meanwhile, people are consuming contaminated water daily. Also, why only 83 samples for a city of 2 crore? The sampling should be more rigorous. We need a real-time monitoring dashboard accessible to the public.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.