(a) whether the Government are aware that the cases of fluorosis are increasing in the Capital day by day;
(b) if so, the number of people suffering from fluorosis reported in the various Government hospitals in Delhi;
(c) whether the Union Government have provided any assistance to the State Government of Delhi to check spread of this disease; and
(d) if so, the details in this regard?
MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. C.P. THAKUR)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the Lok Sabha.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 427 FOR 22.8.2001
The NCT of Delhi is now recognized as an endemic State for fluorosis based on high fluoride content in drinking water reported by the Central Ground Water Board and Delhi Jal Board. Since majority of the people suffering from fluorosis do not get admitted to hospitals, no specific estimates of cases of fluorosis admitted in Delhi hospitals are available.
Provision of safe drinking water is a State subject. However, Government of India supplements the efforts of the State Governments/UTs by providing funds under the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) and Prime Minister`s Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY) - Rural Drinking Water for tackling quality related problems and sustainability issues in respect of rural drinking water supply.