The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Ahluwalia opens de-fluoridation plant

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Thursday, Oct 25, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Ahluwalia opens de-fluoridation plant

S. Ramu

It has been set up jointly by Naandi Foundation and Tata Projects Limited

Gram panchayat provides water source
Villagers to pay Rs. 2 for 20 litres of water

-PHOTO: R. BIKSHAM RUTHER

Expert speaks: Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia addressing a meeting at Kacharam in Nalgonda on Wednesday.

KACHARAM (NALGONDA DT): Putting an end to the agonising wait of 3,000 and odd people of this village for safe drinking water, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, on Wednesday inaugurated a de-fluoridation water plant.

“Bringing water to villages is a serious problem due to contamination of water by fluorine and arsenic. Despite that we should ensure safe drinking water for rural areas,” he said while addressing a public meeting organised in the heart of the village in Yadagirigutta mandal later. He said that the Union government was spending a huge amount on rural water supply and sanitation. “If we wish to have good water, we have to pay something for it. Otherwise such community-based safe drinking water plants would have to be closed down shortly,” he said.

Naandi Foundation, a new generation social sector organisation led by philanthropic corporate heads, took the initiative to open the de-fluoridation unit at a cost of Rs.7 lakh with the partnership of Tata Projects Limited.

While the vibrant local milk society donated Rs.1.2 lakh, Rs.30,000 was collected from villagers for the purpose. Villagers, who hitherto paid an exorbitant price to get filtered water from outside, were asked to pay Rs. 2 per 20 litres of water they would collect at the new plant.

“The gram panchayat has provided the water source to Naandi and we don’t mind paying 10 paise per litre,” the jubilant village sarpanch Kalakuntla Aruna told The Hindu.

“We suffered a lot due to fluorosis. We are going to get rid of the problem for good with the inauguration of the new plant,” she said. Appreciating Naandi for its gesture, Mr. Ahluwalia said: “The Punjab government is evincing keen interest on such water plants. I will tell the government that the water I tasted here today is indeed good.”

Chairman of Naandi Foundation K. Anji Reddy asked the State government to join hands with the organisation to wipe out fluorosis problem in the State by 2010.

“I have been watching the problem for the last two decades. Everyone speaks about the fluorosis problem but the problem remains there. If we take up concrete measures, we can wipe it out by 2010,” he said amid a round of applause. Minister for Rural Water Supply Pinnamaneni Venkateswara Rao announced that he would take up Dr. Anji Reddy’s proposal with the Chief Minister.

“The previous government has not attended the problem. We spent Rs.1,236 crore in the last three years to fight out fluorosis problem in 4,260 habitats across the State,” he claimed.

In other areas

One of the Naandi’s directors told reporters that three such de-fluoridation plants would come up in Nalgonda district soon. Plans were there to open nine units in Karimnagar.

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