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Community water pollution monitoring programme in Pali: first monitoring report

The first monitoring was undertaken on August 22, 2008. When the farmers group visited the CETP for sampling, they observed bypass of untreated effluents and the district administration and the pollution control board was informed of the same. On the complaints of the community, the regional officer, Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board and the CETP officials rushed to the site. Samples from CETP outlets were collected and tested by the farmers in their presence under the supervision of the CSE staff. It was found that the heavy metals in CETP effluents were much higher than the effluent discharge standards specified by the pollution control Board. Arsenic and zinc were found in concentrations exceeding the effluent discharge standards.