(a) whether water borne diseases have caused havoc in many parts of the country due to presence of fluorine contents in water;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise and district- wise; and
(c) the steps taken by the Union Government to extend
financial assistance to the State Govts. to overcome the
problem?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (SMT. BIJOYA CHAKRAVARTY)
(a) & (b) No, Sir. However, high levels of fluoride in
ground water has been observed in certain parts of various
districts in the country. A statement indicating names of
States and districts where ground water has been found
contaminated with fluoride is enclosed.
(c) The provision of drinking water supply is the
responsibility of the State Governments. Rajiv Gandhi
National Drinking Water Mission under the Ministry of Rural
Development has been assisting and guiding the States in the
provision of safe drinking water to the rural population
under the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme, and
exclusive Sub-Missions in areas having serious ground water
quality problems like Fluoride. In such quality affected
areas, where ground water is unfit for drinking, the safe
drinking water is supplied either through alternative
sources, tapping surface water or by other means by
undertaking remedial measures like de-fluoridation. In
urban areas, the Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty
Alleviation assists the States for the provision of safe
drinking water.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF PARTS (a) & (b) OF LOK
SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1308 DATED 26.11.2001
STATE-WISE NAMES OF DISTRICTS WHERE GROUND WATER HAS BEEN
FOUND CONTAMINATED WITH FLUORIDE
STATE DISTRICTS
Andhra Pradesh Prakasam, Nellore, Anantapur, Nalgonda, Ranga Reddy, Adilabad Assam Karbi Anglong, Nowgaon Bihar Giridih, Jamui, Dhanbad
(including Jharkhand)
Gujarat Kachch, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Panchmahal, Kheda Haryana Rohtak, Jind, Hissar, Bhiwani, Mahendragarh, Faridabad Karnataka Tumkur, Kolar, Bangalore, Gulbarga, Bellary, Raichur Kerala Palghat Madhya Pradesh Bhind, Morena, Guna, Jhabua,
(including Chhindwara, Seoni, Mandla, Raipur, Chhattisgarh) Vidisha Maharashtra Bhandara, Chandrapur, Nanded, Aurangabad Orissa Bolangir Punjab Ludhiana, Faridkot, Bhatinda, Sangrur, Jalandhar, Amritsar Rajasthan Barmer, Bikaner, Ganganagar, Jalore, Nagaur, Pali, Sirohi Tamil Nadu Dharmapuri, Salem, North Arcot, Villupuram Tiruchirappalli, Pudukkottai Uttar Pradesh Bulandshahar, Aligarh, Agra, Unnao, Rae-Bareli West Bengal Birbhum NCT of Delhi City, Shahdra & Mehrauli Blocks