India: High level of fluorine in 800 villages, says CM

[pfpcnews]

Pure water supply promised
- High level of fluorine in 800 villages, says CM

The Telegraph - June 5, 2006

By SUDHIR KUMAR MISHRA

Daltonganj, June 4: Chief minister Arjun Munda today said that more than 800 villages in Palamau division, where high levels of fluorine were detected in water, would get filtered drinking water within a year.

“We have already identified 2,600 such points and have successfully conducted tests there. In the fluoride villages, groundwater levels have receded below 40 feet. This is alarming,” said Munda.

Recharging groundwater was the thrust of the chief minister at the review meeting held here last evening.

He insisted upon implementing rainwater harvesting techniques and preventing water wastage.

Monsoon failure and the ensuing water scarcity have been perennial problems in Palamau region. In certain villages, even marriages are not solemnised due to drinking water scarcity.

Munda denied knowledge about such occurrences, but admitted that lack of proper planning and coordination among various departments was greatly responsible for such troubles.

“I am being told that Naxalites are stalling development work at several places, but the police claim that they never received any specific complaints,” the chief minister told The Telegraph.

“This proves that either the government officials and the public representatives have no faith in the police, or that the police are not registering the complaints.”

Individual tracking system was required for effective growth of human development index, he added.

“You people keep saying that there has been no positive development in Jharkhand. Why don’t you observe that our 2006 revenue earnings, through sales tax alone, have shot up from Rs 22 crore in 2001 to Rs 800 crore? This proves that the purchasing power of our people have improved,” he pointed out.

Meeting senior officials and party workers, Munda stressed on the need for resource mobilisation and its optimum utilisation. Fighting drought through self-governance also found mention in the chief minister’s meeting.

SOURCE:
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060605/a ... 312052.asp