Governance Gaps in Managing Metal Contamination

Effective management of metal contamination requires coordination across multiple scales: local communities, state agencies, national regulators, and policy frameworks. However, persistent governance gaps exacerbate exposure risks and limit remediation effectiveness. Understanding these gaps is essential for designing interventions that are both practical and equitable (National Scale; thematic Venn).

• Fragmented Monitoring: Water quality surveillance is inconsistent, with many rivers, aquifers, and industrial zones lacking regular testing.
• Regulatory Enforcement Issues: Guidelines from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) are not uniformly applied, leaving gaps in compliance.
• Limited Local Capacity: Communities often lack technical knowledge, resources, or institutional support to implement water safety measures.
• Inadequate Data Sharing: Scientific data, contamination reports, and health studies are not always accessible to stakeholders or policymakers.
• Delayed Response & Accountability: Industrial and municipal discharges frequently go unaddressed due to slow legal and administrative processes.

Closing these governance gaps requires integrated monitoring, transparent reporting, and community involvement, ensuring that remediation strategies are supported by reliable data and institutional accountability.