A worrying revelation has emerged regarding the health of children in Punjab and Chandigarh. A recent study has found that lead and uranium levels in the blood and groundwater of children in Chandigarh, Bathinda, and Rupnagar in Punjab far exceed WHO-prescribed limits. This has raised public concern. The survey was conducted by Punjab University in collaboration with Baba Farid NGO, Faridkot. During the study, 149 blood samples and 137 groundwater samples were collected from children aged 5 to 15 years. Dangerous levels were recorded in 32.62% of samples in Bathinda, 19.35% in Rupnagar, and 26.32% in Chandigarh.
The results revealed that 26 percent of children had blood lead levels exceeding 3.5 micrograms per deciliter. Additionally, uranium levels were found above the permissible limit in 17 groundwater samples in Bathinda. Following the report, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission and the Chandigarh Human Rights Commission took cognizance of the matter, calling it a serious public health and human rights issue. Citing Article 21 of the Constitution (Right to Life and Health), the Commission stated that pollution affecting the health of children is unacceptable under any circumstances.
Commission Chairman Justice Sant Prakash directed the state and union territory administrations to take immediate action. He ordered the Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Department and the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to prioritize the installation and maintenance of RO systems in affected schools, Anganwadi centers, and rural areas.
