High levels of nitrate, lead and nickel have been found present in the groundwater samples collected by the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research at the Union Carbide site in Bhopal. Submitting a report of its study before the Supreme Court which is hearing a PIL in this regard, the IITR said, “In nine of the 30 samples, nitrate levels exceeded its permissible Bureau of Indian Standard limits for drinking water. Lead level in 24 samples were found to exceed its BIS permissible limit.” The bench of Justices Altamas Kabir and J Chelameswar were told that though this is a worrying sign, yet there was no reason to panic as the water supply to the 18 colonies surrounding the Bhopal gas tragedy site were supplied piped water by the municipal authorities for drinking purposes. According to IITR, water samples could not be collected from inside the Union Carbide factory as the ground was wet due to the ongoing monsoon season. It sought further time of three months to give conclusive proof of contamination. The Institute had carried out study of water samples to identify physical and chemical composition of groundwater, presence of heavy metals and an organic study of the water content.