Grama Panchayats in fluoride-affected area of Nalgonda adopt resolution on water wastage: Reports
NALGONDA: The Grama Panchayats in fluoride-affected regions are coming up with resolutions imposing a fine on those who waste tap-water in villages. This decision is in view of the anticipated water crisis due to the Super El Nino effect.
Special grama sabhas were conducted at some villages and their decision against water wastage was given wide publicity.
The grama sabha of Ajalapuram of Marrigudem mandal in the district unanimously adopted a resolution for imposition of a `2,000 fine on villagers wasting water. Ajalapuram is a remote village, located 55km off the district headquarters and has a population of 3,614 through 870 households.
The fluoride content in ground water there was 6 to 9ppm, based on location. The villagers have no option other than depending on ground water, if safe drinking water supply through the pipeline of Mission Bhagiratha is stopped or reduced.
Another fluoride-affected grama panchayat is Ramreddypalli, which also adopted a resolution to impose a fine of `5,000 on errant villagers – those who allow piped water to flow in the street. The village is located 49km off Nalgonda and has a population of 4,000.
Sarpanch of Ajalapuram, Rokkam Bhaskar Reddy, said, “We know the value of safe drinking water. This was denied to the people of the village for decades. We notice that the water being supplied to the village through taps is being wasted. Hence, the grama panchayat unanimously adopted a resolution to impose a fine upto `2,000 on tthose who waste water.”
He said, “The water level in the bore wells at the village has also depleted due to lack of rains. Moreover, ground water with high fluoride content is not safe to drink.”
Sarpanch of ramreddypalli, Lampangi Narsimha, has announced that the decision on fine would be implemented strictly and no one including sarpanch and ward members is exempted from this. The amount thus received would be spent for the drinking water works in the villages, he said.
Kanchukatla Subash, founder of Fluorosis Vimukthi Porata Samithi, an organisation working on the fluoride issue, said they would conduct a campaign to spread awareness among the people of fluoride-affected villages on the need to strictly avoid wasting water in view of the Super El Nino situation.
The people of the fluoride-affected villages should not drink ground water in any circumstance. They, he said, should inform the sarpanch or Mission Bhagiratha officials or the Samithi, as and when drinking water is not supplied to them through Mission Bhagiratha.
