The residents of Patripal gram panchayat under Remuna block are facing an acute shortage of drinking water in the ongoing summer as the patch is severely affected due to presence of fluoride in the ground water. Although the Sono river flows through the GP, yet the
drinking water crisis looms large for at least eight villages. The water obtained from tube wells installed in different parts is unfit for human consumption, except for washing clothes and other purposes etc. To cater to the need of drinking water although a water treatment plant has been installed at Boitabanka under Tentulda GP to tap theSono river water and supply water to the villagers of fluorideaffected villages, the villagers complained that they were not gettingadequate water in pipe.
The villagers of Chakulia, Fartipur and Barharda said due to excessfluoride presence in the ground water, many people were suffering fromfluorosis and have either become physically deformed or were sufferingfrom deformity.
“The fluoride issue has been a perennial one and despite our appealsfor years, the authorities couldn’t provide a permanent solution to the problem, except providing water through mobile water tankers,” the villagers said.
