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| The World Health Organisation says that ingestion of excess fluoride, most commonly in drinking-water, can cause fluorosis which affects the teeth and bones |
Nearly 14,000 habitations in 17 states reported to have
excess fluoride in drinking water sources, affecting more than 1.14 crore (a
crore being equivalent to 10 million) people, Rajya Sabha was informed today.
According to the World Health Organisation, ingestion of
excess fluoride, most commonly in drinking-water, can cause fluorosis which
affects the teeth and bones.
Moderate amounts lead to dental effects, but long-term
ingestion of large amounts can lead to potentially severe skeletal problems,
WHO say.
At 6,855, the maximum cases have been reported from
Rajasthan, followed by 1,087 cases from Bihar, 1,065 from Karnataka and 1,064
from West Bengal, Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation Ramesh
Chandappa Jigajinagi said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
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| Young girl with dental fluorosis in Holkunda village |
“As on July 20, the problem of excess fluoride in rural
drinking water sources is reported by 17 states in 13,949 habitations,” he
said.
The minister said 1.14 crore people are at risk due to presence
of excess fluoride in water.
Rural drinking water is a state subject. The Ministry of
Drinking Water and Sanitation assists the states in providing safe drinking
water in rural areas through centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water
Programme (NRDWP).
As per the plan of the Ministry, 90 per cent of the rural
population would be provided with safe drinking water by 2020 through surface
water based piped supply schemes, he said.
In a separate reply, the minister said that during 2015-16,
an amount of Rs 4,268.58 crore has been provided to the states under NRDWP.
While in 2016-17, Rs 1986.66 crore has been released to the states in first installment
in April-May.
SOURCE NDTV
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