Fluorosis scare compounds water woes in Balangir

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Fluorosis scare compounds water woes in Balangir

NewWindPress - April 14, 2007

BALANGIR: Excess fluoride content in drinking water has affected the residents of Deogaon block in the district.

With the water sources steadily drying up, the only alternative left for them is tube wells that spew contaminated water.

There are about 11,819 tube wells in the entire district, of which, about 500 are defunct. And the water from another 100 has fluoride content.

According to sources, 40 persons of Ghatul village of Deogaon block have been affected by consuming water with fluoride content. The matter came to light after the villagers complained of their teeth getting blackened.

When consulted, the doctors said that intake of fluoride content water was the reason. Although they have been asked by the officials of Health and Water Supply Department to stop consuming that water, the people have no other alternative.

Ghatul villagers depend on four tube wells which have already been declared defunct after it was detected that water it produced contained heavy amounts of fluoride.

Executive Engineer of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) Ramesh Sahu said that tube wells in 21 villages of Deogaon have been found to be drawing fluoride water.

“Since the Health Department also confirmed that the fluoride content was high which could lead to fluoresces, we asked the villagers not to use tube well water,” he said, adding, alternative water facilities will be available soon.

Other badly affected villagers are Grugru and Handgrip. The condition is such that a healthy child can be handicapped within a short time and the condition worsens over the years.

Chief District Medical Officer S D Mishra said he had urged the villagers to keep children away from fluoride water and a medical team would soon be sent to the village to create awareness among people about fluoride.

Meanwhile, resentment is brewing among the villagers who are protesting the delay in provision of alternative water facilities.

They had recently boycotted the palli sabha convened to discuss water problem in the area.

The former chairman of Deogaon block said that all the panchayats had been provided funds under the 12th Finance Commission grant for facilitating rural water supply.

He also added that deep bore wells or piped-water supply from the nearby Songarh river would be the best alternative.

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