Bangiriposi: Fluoride content in groundwater has been taking a heavy toll in several villages under this block in Mayurbhanj district with scores of people affected by fluorosis and kidney ailments.
According to reports, 10 years ago, the public health authorities had identified some tube wells and wells in the villages as hazardous for consumption. But, in the absence of alternative sources for safe drinking water, inhabitants of Joka Hatasahi, Gederasahi and Asansikad in Budhikhamari and Kusumbandh panchayats consume water from tube wells and nullahs.
Many young people of the villages look older as their legs and hands are in bad shape while their teeth look yellowish. Some of them are also affected by kidney disease.
The villagers have urged the government to initiate immediate steps to save them from the grip of the diseases.
As many as 250 people belonging to 35 families reside in Joka Hatasahi. Many suffer from ailments like bent spine, swelling of joints and kidney problems.
“The water we drink from tube wells and ponds is reddish due to fluoride content. Joka Hatasahi village has three tube wells from which red water comes out. With no other sources of safe drinking water, we are bound to use water from tube wells and a ditch at Sankrai,” they said.
Residents of Kusumabandh panchayat are also facing the same problem.
“A safe drinking water project under Swajaladhara Yojana was set up at Krushnapur to supply water to Gederasahi, Karkutia and Asansikad, but water supply remained confined to only Gederasahi. Under these conditions, we have to drink water from tube wells,” said Ramdas Marandi, Chandramohan Tudu, Mirja Murmu and Budhiray Marandi, all affected by fluorosis.
The population of these three villages is over 2,000, out of which over 100 are affected by fluorosis.
Residents alleged no health team has ever visited the villages to take stock of the situation.
Social activist Deepak Kumar Behera regretted that many villagers have been facing problems in getting safe drinking water, but the government is paying no heed to them.
Ghanshaym Mohant, an activist of local outfit Banbasi Kalyanshram, said, “Drinking water is a major problem in our area. Water is life, but many villagers are awaiting death after drinking fluoride rich water. Sadly, the government is in slumber. Earlier, a SHG along with a medical team had sought help of the rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) department to test the quality of water.”
RWSS engineer Narayan Bhoi said the government had warned the people against consuming water from some tube wells. PNN
