No Cause for Fear on Uranium in Water: Himachal Minister

The uranium content in the groundwater of Himachal Pradesh is not at alarming levels, a Himachal minister said on Wednesday.

The maximum concentration of uranium in the state was recorded in Kasol village, 42 km from Kullu town, at 37.40 ppb (particles per billion) in the surveys of Guru Nanak Dev University of Amritsar in Punjab, Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ravinder Ravi told the assembly during question hour.

He said the concentration of uranium at Samoor Kalan village, eight km from Una town, was 18.20 ppb, while it was 8.02 ppb in Shaat village in Kullu district.

As per the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board of India, uranium limit in the groundwater beyond 60 ppb is alarming.

"Since there is no health hazard associated with these levels of uranium in groundwater, the government is not planning precautionary steps," the minister added.

Source: IANS