People in 5 blocks of Nuapada live on high-flouride water

The Pioneer, July 22, 2009
Rakesh Joshi | Bargarh

Palsipani village under Komna block of Nuapada district is one of the worst-affected areas due to excessive content of fluoride in the water. At least 10 persons have already succumbed to fluorosis in the village. When locals raised the issue before the authorities, they sealed the tube wells assuring to provide fluoride-free drinking water on a war footing. However, no action has been taken till date.

Recently, Sahabhagi Vikash Abhiyan (SVA), an NGO conducted a survey on groundwater in five blocks of the district — Nuapada, Komna, Boden, Khadial and Sinapali — and found that more than 1,71,895 people in 205 villages are severely affected with bone, dental and neurological problems. Reason: excessively high content of fluoride in their drinking water.

The medically accepted limit for fluoride in water is 0.5 to 1.0 mg in one litre which is beneficial for dental health. But in the five blocks of Nuapada district, it touches 3.5 mg a litre. As a result, many villagers were suffering from fluorosis, which can only be prevented, and not cured.

The water consumed for domestic purposes is mostly groundwater and these aquifers are high in fluoride content, causing water to become a health hazard.

Scores of people with bent knees and brown, broken teeth can be seen in the area while they are still in their youth. Even small children are showing symptoms of chronic fluorosis which passes from the mother to the child in the womb.

Two villagers — Pitamber Nial (45) and Rupin Harpal (35) — affected with fluorosis said villagers had approached the authorities with the issue. They just came and sealed the tube wells after assuring them to provide fluoride-free water on a war footing. No step has been taken so far, they said.

“If the Government fails to solve our problem at the earliest, we will stage demonstration and protest for fluoride-free water in our village,” the villagers said.