Telangana: Nalgonda residents’ battle with fluorosis far from over

Lack of focus on implementation of Mission Bhagiratha under Congress government led to frequent disruptions in supply of treated water, resulting in resurgence of fluorosis cases

Hyderabad: Nalgonda district is once again calling for attention as people grapple with the effects of high fluoride levels in groundwater. The resurgence of fluorosis cases, seen as a potential public health issue, has put the administration on high alert. The NGOs are back in action for raising awareness levels among the public on the do’s and don’ts, especially in villages and urban pockets where fresh cases of skeletal and dental fluorosis were reported as part of a door-to-door survey taken up by the State Health Department.

Excessive fluoride levels in groundwater have long plagued the residents, leading to severe fluorosis in the district. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a fluoride concentration of 0.5 to 1.0 parts per million (ppm) in drinking water. However, in Nalgonda’s 3,477 affected villages, fluoride levels range from 3.0 to 28 ppm, causing widespread fluorosis. The problem was first identified during the Nizam’s rule, led to a widespread outbreak of fluorosis, a crippling disease that affects bones and teeth.

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Efforts to combat fluorosis date back to the 1940s when the Nizam government-initiated surface water projects. However, post-independence, successive governments have struggled to find a sustainable solution. The 1975 Nalgonda Technique, supported by the Netherlands, introduced de-fluoridation plants in severely affected villages, but these measures provided only temporary relief. Special attention was paid to the malady in the 1980s and 90s with collectors such as A.Vidya Sagar (IAS) and S.M. Balasubramanyam initiating intensive measures to address the problem.

In recent years, former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s Mission Bhagiratha helped in ensuring provision of safe drinking water from the Krishna and Godavari rivers to all villages, including those impacted by fluorosis. While Chandrashekar Rao inaugurated the project, related initiatives like the Srisailam Left Bank Canal and Dindi Lift Irrigation Scheme have faced delays due to insufficient funding. The establishment of the Fluoride and Fluorosis Mitigation National Centre in Choutuppal aimed to deliver scientific research and advanced medical treatments.

However, the project was relocated to West Bengal during the BJP government’s tenure, delaying progress. Many social activists including Kanchukattla Subhash continue to push for the project’s reinstatement in Nalgonda, advocating for comprehensive scientific studies to declare the district fluoride-free. They also called for monthly pensions for affected individuals, free medical treatments, and heightened public awareness to prevent future generations from suffering the same fate.

This apart, the lack of focus on ensuring effective implementation of Mission Bhagiratha programme after the Congress government took over, led to frequent disruptions in supply of treated water, with the fight against fluorosis in Nalgonda now resuming. Activists and residents are coming together once again urging the government to prioritise providing safe drinking water under Mission Bhagiratha and decommissioning ineffective water filters.