Dr. Dericks Praise Shukla is an Associate Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, IIT Mandi and Harsimranjit Kaur Romana is a native of Punjab.

This transformation has led to the dominance of mono-cropping of high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat, making Punjab the second-largest contributor to wheat production in India, say IIT Mandi researchers.

In the last two decades, the groundwater demand has increased due to the absence of monsoon. The depth of groundwater wells has increased due to the lowering of groundwater levels as a result the quality of groundwater is continuously deteriorating, say IIT Mandi researchers.

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The groundwater department and local farmers have to exploit groundwater from deeper geological strata which are enriched in heavy metals and few are radioactive having serious health impacts.

Activity

The prolific agricultural activity has come at a significant cost – groundwater pollution. Since 94% of the population of Punjab relies on groundwater for their drinking water needs, the pollution of groundwater has resulted in serious health issues.

Punjab once celebrated as the “bread bowl of India”, is now infamously referred to as the “cancer capital” of India, reflecting the dire consequences of water pollution and its impact on human health, say IIT Mandi researchers.

While multiple studies have highlighted groundwater quality issues in India, an extensive time-based and place-based analysis of the region has been lacking. The IIT Mandi study sought to address this critical gap.

Motive

Explaining the motive of the study, Dr. D.P. Shukla, Associate Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, IIT Mandi, said they aimed to assess how groundwater quality for drinking purposes changed from 2000 to 2020 at different places.

It also sought to examine ten-year trends in health hazards associated with contaminants like nitrate and fluoride, along with identifying regions with notably subpar groundwater quality, he said.

The paper was co-authored by Ms. Harsimranjit Kaur Romana, Prof. Ramesh P. Singh, and Dr. Dericks Praise Shukla. The paper may be accessed here: ‘https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-29200-6’

The study

The study by IIT Mandi researchers involved the measurements of pH, electric conductivity (EC), and various ions from over 315 sites in Punjab. The results revealed a disturbing trend, with water quality declining in the southwestern region of Punjab, adversely affecting the health of the residents.

In contrast, the north-eastern regions, nourished by Himalayan rivers, exhibited comparatively better water quality.

This study by IIT Mandi researchers not only sheds light on the alarming state of groundwater pollution in Punjab but also serves as a crucial resource for policymakers.

It underscores the urgent need for mitigation measures and creates awareness among residents about the locations with unsafe groundwater for drinking.

These findings emphasize that immediate attention of the state government is required to investigate the quality of groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes.

The study’s insights are expected to catalyze actions aimed at safeguarding this invaluable resource and the health of the population, say IIT Mandi researchers.

The others are School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCENE), School of Computing and Electrical Engineering (SCEE), School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS), and School of Management (SOM).

The Centers are Advanced Materials Research Centre (AMRC), Centre for Design and Fabrication of Electrical Devices (C4DFED), BioX Centre, Indian Knowledge System and Mental Health Applications Centre (IKSMHA Centre) and Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.

This collaboration agreement seeks to capitalize on the strengths of both institutions, broadening the learning experience for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science (BS) programs at IIT Madras and undergraduate programs at IIT Palakkad.

To date, over 30,000 students are actively participating in this program, fostering a vibrant and interactive learning community, say sources from IIT Palakkad.

Director of IIT Madras

Welcoming this collaboration, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said IIT Madras is committed to reach quality education to every deserving student in our country. This initiative with IIT Palakkad is a very significant step towards reaching the goals.

We are enthusiastic about mentoring these bright minds. Our courses and internships have a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and innovation, said director of IIT Palakkad.

This collaboration with IIT Madras will build a robust foundation that equips students with the skills, insights, and networks they need to excel, he said.

Key features

The key features of this collaboration include:

Ø Credit Transfer from IITPkd Courses: IIT Madras BS (Data Science and Applications) students who meet the eligibility criteria can fulfil their credit requirements by taking courses at IIT Palakkad, promoting an exchange of academic resources and expertise.

Ø Access to IIT Madras Courses for IIT Palakkad Students: The MoU allows undergraduate students at IIT Palakkad to enrol in courses on Data Science and Programming from the IIT Madras BS program, ensuring equitable access to these cutting-edge skills.

Ø Support for Additional Initiatives: The collaboration will also facilitate student exchange programs, internship opportunities, and other joint initiatives.

Commitment

This collaboration between IIT Madras and IITPkd highlights the commitment of both institutions to enrich student experiences through cross-disciplinary exposure, practical learning, and research opportunities.

It aims to create a robust academic ecosystem that utilizes the expertise and infrastructure of both IITs.

Collaboration

IIT Madras has been collaborating with other leading institutions in the country to provide in-person learning opportunities for final-year students in the BS program.

IIT Gandhinagar, IIIT Hyderabad, and Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI) have already made their campus courses available to eligible students from the IIT Madras BS (Data Science) degree program.

About IIT Palakkad

Established in 2015, the Indian Institute of Technology, Palakkad is dedicated to creating an environment that enables students and faculty to engage in the pursuit of knowledge, to dream, think, and innovate thereby becoming change agents for a better world.

Having begun with just 120 students in July 2015, IIT Palakkad has since grown into an establishment that is about a thousand students strong and with the best manpower in key positions.

IITPkd aims to become a multi-disciplinary institution with 5000 students by its 10th year. The Institute recognizes collective growth, in collaboration with industry and other academic institutions, as the need of the time and emphasizes blue-sky research and directed research as two essential pillars of technology development.

The Institute embraces a vision to be a leader in cross-disciplinary inquiries, and to contribute to the potential that India’s demographic dividend represents for the country and the world, which is embodied in the motto of the institute “Nurturing minds for a better world”.

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