GROUND WATER ARSENIC CONTAMINATION INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR MAKING ARSENIC FREE DRINKING WATER NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR ARSENIC MITIGATION (NAPAM, 2005-09)

Ground water Arsenic contamination has exponentially endangered the human life and complicated the efforts for obtaining and maintaining drinking water quality standards. The deadly contaminant (Arsenic) has created an alarming and catastrophic crises world over, especially in South Asia e.g., Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Vietnam, China and Myanmar who are facing ground water arsenic contamination problems. Every affected country is combating the arsenic contamination menace within the framework of their own socio-economic, legal and cultural perspectives which may not be cost-effective and efficient in time and space dimensions. The reason might be of devoid of integration approach amongst the key stakeholders. Hence, under the circumstances, there was a dire need of an integrated approach to combat the arsenic contamination which has virtually emerged as a crises situation thus necessitating formulation of national action plan for arsenic mitigation. Strategies and Objectives within the Action Plan Framework are based on the earlier initiatives of addressing the serious issue of arsenic contamination resulting in the formulation of national action plan for arsenic mitigation which includes, establishing integrated institutional arrangement and developing capacity, coordination mechanism amongst all the implementing agencies at various levels of administration with government(s), NGOs, donor agencies and other departments, policy decisions and legislation to enforce for arsenic mitigation,. monitoring and surveillance of water quality/ aquifer mapping / treatment and data base thereof, establishing case diagnosis / treatment of affected arsenicosis under health department., developing effective and sustainable behavioral change programme including community participation / social mobilization and developing cost-effective water treatment technologies and establishment of research related infrastructures. The major components of national action plan for arsenic mitigation are described diagrammatically in the subsequent paragraphs. This paper is based on the arsenic contamination status in Pakistan and inferences thus were drawn and shaped as national action plan for arsenic mitigation (NAPAM) which is going to be equally good for any affected country.