Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: Only II follows
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Arsenic-contaminated groundwater is a serious public-health hazard. Effective courses of action must prioritize immediate risk mitigation and sustainable safe-water access while considering feasibility and proportionality.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Providing safe water (II) directly addresses the hazard via alternative sources and treatment (piped surface water, tanker supply, community RO/activated alumina filters, blending within safe limits). Mass relocation (I) is drastic, logistically complex, and rarely the first-line response; it disrupts livelihoods and social networks and is only justified if remediation and safe supply are impossible in reasonable time.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Implement II: establish immediate safe-water points and medium-term piped solutions; communicate do-not-drink advisories for contaminated tubewells.2) Keep relocation as a last resort for pockets where safe supply cannot be ensured despite best efforts.
Verification / Alternative check:
Public-health interventions worldwide prioritize risk communication and provision of safe alternatives over relocation except in extreme, unmanageable contamination scenarios.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Only I overreacts; Either/Both inappropriately elevate relocation to parity with the practical solution.
Common Pitfalls:
Assuming relocation is the default remedy; overlooking that arsenic is removable only with specific treatment, not by boiling.
Final Answer:
Only II follows.
Discussion & Comments