Andhra Pradesh - Nalgonda   

Orissa team visits fluorosis-hit villages

Staff Reporter

Eight-member group led by a journalist

STUDYING THE PROBLEM: Members of a team from Orissa interacting with a fluorosis victim Amsala Swamy at his residence at Shivannagudem in Marriguda mandal in Nalgonda district on Monday.

NALGONDA: An eight-member delegation of Sahbhagi Vikas Abhijan (SVA) led by a journalist, K. R. Sunani, visited half a dozen villages in the district on Sunday and Monday to know the severity of the fluorosis problem and the techniques being practised by the victims to fight it out.

They met acute fluorosis victims Amsala Swamy and Panuganti Tirupatamma, who fought in the panchayat raj elections to highlight the problem, and made enquiries about the impact of the disease.

Defunct tanks inspected

They inspected the defunct water tanks constructed as part of the Netherlands scheme and visited the Krishna water supply scheme in the town.

Mr. Sunani said it was disheartening to see people with stunted growth and physical ailments due to fluorosis. "It is disturbing to know the fact that we are unable to supply pure water, a basic right of people, even in this modern age," he said.

According to Mr.Sunani, the Orissa Government found high content of fluoride in the water of Karlakot in Nuapada district way back in 1999 but there were no effective measures to supply drinking water to people. "Inspired by the Andhra Pradesh High Court order given in August 2001, we are going to file a public interest litigation in the Orissa High Court to force our Government to take steps against fluorosis," he said.

He revealed that the SVA was planning to conduct chemical tests in 6000 tube wells in Orissa after the visit in Andhra Pradesh. Before commencing their visit in the district, the Orissa team met Kanchukatla Subhash, Convener, Fluorosis Vimukti Porata Samithi, at Marriguda.

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Orissa team visits fluorosis-hit villages

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