Unsafe drinking water in two districts
Express News Service - March 25, 2010
CHENNAI: A new report has confirmed the unacceptably high fluoride content in groundwater sources in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts. The Hogenakkal drinking water scheme was conceived over 40 years ago to specifically address this problem in the two districts.
Water samples lifted from the two districts had 9 mg of fluoride per litre as against the permissible limits of 1-1.5 mg per litre, according to A Devaraj, project officer, Unicef.
Speaking at the two-day Partner Organisation’s Meet organised by water.org here on Wednesday, he said while Tamil Nadu may be proud to be counted amongst the few states to have achieved 97 per cent access to water, it should work to improve the quality of the water.
According to a recent Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board’s water quality analysis report, there is a high concentration of fluoride in ground water in many parts of the districts ranging from 1.5 mg/l to 12.4 mg/l, which is in excess of the permissible limit of 1.5 mg/l.
“Skeletal fluorosis, dental fluorosis, non-skeletal manifestation or a combination of the above are the resultant diseases suffered by people due to the consumption of fluoride-contaminated water over a prolonged period,” the report stated. Devaraj also highlighted the rise in bacterial contamination of water and said this was mostly due to unhygienic practices. “Although the water quality in the State is not safe, the bureaucrats refuse to accept it. The water supplied in Krishnagiri is from Bangalore drains, cleaned and distributed to the people,” he said. He pointed out the need to work out a sustainable solution for effective community participation and stressed the need to sensitise the representatives of local administration in the villages and districts on water issues. “Nowadays those who are elected to Panchayats perform their duties more like contractors and seldom think of long term goals,” he said.
Water.org has also conducted a baseline study in their target villages spread over five states — Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Orissa. Heather Arney, senior manager (international programmes), water.org, said the study, conducted in 11,176 households, found that 56 per cent of people did not have access to adequate water. The study also found that 68 per cent of people defecated in open places while 24 per cent of people said toilets were not a priority. It also found that 49 per cent of the respondents dipped their hands into the container while drawing water and 24 per cent never washed their hands Arney said water.org was also working on a $4.1 million project to provide greater access to safe water and sanitation for those currently living without these basic necessities in India. “The three-year project implemented in June 2008 will directly impact a minimum of 1,20,000 lives. Women and children comprise an estimated 68 percent of this total. Approximately 60,000 people will be served through traditional grants while an additional 60,000 people will be served through water credit,” Arney added.
Water.org works with five leading micro-finance organisations in India to promote water credit and thus create access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities through loans. “Towards reaching a minimum of 90,000 beneficiaries under the Pepsico Foundation-funded program, five leading micro-finance institutes in India viz. Guardian, BISWA, ESAF & Hand In Hand and GrameenKoota are partnering with us. Nearly 7,000 water and sanitation loans were provided to reach 37,400 beneficiaries during the last 18 months,” Arney said.
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