Indians in murky waters

Indians in murky waters

The Statesman (India)

Thursday, 30 September, 2004

Arun Anand in New Delhi


Sept. 29. — Millions of Indians living in around two lakh habitations all over the country are facing a severe health hazard as they are compelled to consume water which has dangerously high presence of flouride, iron, nitrate, arsenic and salinity. West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Nagaland, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are the worst affected states in this regard.

According to latest information available with the Union ministry of rural development 36,988 habitations are drinking water contaminated with flouride beyond permissible limits.

The highest number of such habitations, 16,560 is in Rajasthan followed by 2,712 such habitations in Orissa. Uttar Pradesh Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir also figure prominently on this list having more than six thousand such habitations.

Even the “prosperous” status of Punjab has 927 habitations where drinking water is contaminated by flouride. ...
Tweet