The Hindu : Karnataka News : Though unnatural, people age fast at Bandlarhatti

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Wednesday, Jan 30, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Though unnatural, people age fast at Bandlarhatti

Firoz Rozindar

Excessive fluoride content in drinking water is the cause

Fluorosis has made Tippeswamy appear older than his age.

Chitradurga: Tippeswamy, a 51-year-old farmer, has given up his occupation due to fluorosis. The acute joint pain has brought him to a position wherein he hardly does any physical work and instead spends most of his time at home.

The case of Neelamma is also no different. Due to fluorosis, she finds domestic work a difficult task. At the age of 40, her back has bent forward, and she sometimes takes the support of a stick to walk.

The problem could be summarised in the lament of an elderly person of this village: “The fluoride content in water has made the youth of our village look aged.”

This is the stark reality of Bandlarhatti, a village located 40 kilometres from Chitradurga city. It has a population of 600. A visit to the village shows that it is no different from the numerous other hamlets. However, a closer look at the people shows a startlingly difference.

The entire village has been affected by fluorosis which is caused due to the consumption of fluoride-contaminated water.

The intake of excess fluoride through water has apparently crippled the lives of villagers. Fluoride affects bones and joints. It weakens the bones and gives acute pain in the joints. Symptoms of fluorosis are yellow teeth which gradually starts decaying, and pain in the joints.

The village has the highest fluoride content in water in the district with the percentage going beyond 5 parts per million which is believed to be four times more than the permissible limit.

According to the villagers, the problem surfaced about 20 years ago. “ We did not know what fluorosis is till a few years ago. We came to know only when people began complaining of tooth decay and joint pain; the doctors confirmed it to be fluorosis,” said 76-year-old B.S. Tippeswamy.

He said that since then several government teams visited the village to collect water samples. But no permanent solution was offered. “To provide fluoride-free water, a defluoridation unit was set up about seven years ago. However, within one year of its installation, it faced some technical problem and it became defunct. Later, they took away the machines leaving behind an empty room,” he said.

The village is being supplied water from five borewells, as there is no other source. After the problem became grave, many families fled to neighbouring places. “You can clearly see the difference between our children and their children. While their children look healthier, ours look pale and sick,” said Shivaprakash, a 27-year-old worker.

With hopes in her eyes, Neelamma said, “Our time is over, but we want our future generation not to suffer from this problem.”

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