(a) whether drinking water in one-third of the country`s districts has a very high fluoride content;
(b) if so, whether there is also very high salinity and nitrate content in one-fourth of the districts;
(c) if so, whether millions of people are suffering from fluorosis as a result of this; and
(d) if so, the steps being taken for the treatment of water before it is supplied for consumption?
THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)
(a) & (b)As per information of the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation (MoDWS), as on 01.04.2012, out of 650 districts 184 are affected by fluoride, 154 districts are salinity affected and 80 districts are Nitrate affected.
(c)Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has indicated that about 25 million people including 6 million children below the age of 14 are suffering from fluorosis. However, 66 million people, residing in endemic area are at risk as the fluoride level in their drinking water is above permissible limit.
(d)States are to undertake water treatment measures under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme with suitable treatment technologies.