The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Pinning hopes on Hogenakkal project

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Saturday, Apr 12, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Pinning hopes on Hogenakkal project

S. Prasad

Fluoride content high in groundwater

PHOTO: N. BASHKARAN

Suffering lot: Villagers are facing health problems due to consumption of fluoride-contaminated water. —

Krishnagiri: Even as political interests overshadow the Hogenakkal drinking water project, the fluoride-affected population in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts are pinning hopes on amicable settlement of the row at the earliest.

At least the future generation will be spared of the scourge, many here feel.

According to WHO norms, the proportion of fluoride accepted in water sources is below 1.5 parts per million (ppm) a litre. But the proportion was found to be very high in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.

Reports show that the negative effects of fluorosis are maximum in habitations, which have a high concentration of fluoride in groundwater sources.

Dental flourosis occurs mainly because of heavy ingestion of fluoride from the foetal stage to 12 years of age resulting in mottled teeth.

Dental fluorosis is permanent for life, say health officials. But, beyond it the risk of being affected by skeletal and non-skeletal fluorosis characterised by back stiffness, pain in the bones and joints, sensation of burning, pricking and tingling in the limbs, muscle weakness and chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders, and reduced appetite, also remains.

A significant number of population in the villages of Madinayanapalli, Pothinayanapalli, Periyathakepalli, Chinnathakepalli and Chinnakottapalli located near the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border are exposed to skeletal fluorosis.

Govindappan (50) of Madhinayanapalli is unable to walk or move his limbs because of deformities in major joints.

“I have tried various treatments but nothing has worked,” he says. Subramani (20) of Madinayanapalli has been diagnosed with low IQ and memory loss because of heavy ingestion of fluoride. In the absence of proper drinking water facilities, the villagers are forced to consume water contaminated with fluoride. People in the affected areas hope that the Hogenakkal water scheme will alleviate their sufferings.

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