More than 25,000 people have been affected in fluorosis owing to floride contamination in water, revealed a study at a State-level consultation on ‘Water Issues and Alternatives’ organised by the Regional Centre for Development Cooperation (RCDC) supported by the WaterAid held here on Friday.
The study also stated that floride in water found in as many as 27 districts in the State. Water sources in the districts of Khordha, Dhenkanal, Angul, Puri, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Boudh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Baleswar, Nuapada and Balangir have iron contamination, floride and chromium content causing different diseases which affect livelihoods, it added.
Development consultant Gouri Shankar Mishra said the Central Government have spent heavy amount of money for ensuring water quality, but the State failed in the issue due to the lack of infrastructure and human resources in rural areas.
“The advocacy on empowering the Gram Panchayats and making them transparent and accountable should be the priority to ensure the water quality,” Mishra said, adding, “If people get quality water, health will not be an issue as most of the ailments are waterborne.”
Mishra also said that water quality will be the biggest issue in the coming decade. Among others, RCDC director Asim Mohapatra, RCDC executive director Kailash Chandra Das, WaterAid State head Bisakha Bhanja, programme manager Bimal Pandia, ActionAid programme manager Ghasiram Panda and WaterAid programme manager Bikash Pati spoke in the consultation.