NHRC calls for Jharkhand Government's report on high fluoride level in ground water in Garhwah district; Also decides to conduct its own investigation

New Delhi, August 17th, 2011
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report alleging that high fluoride level in drinking water in Garhwa district of Jharkhand is maiming and killing people. The fluoride level in water in several villages in the district is 3.5 ppm (part per million) as against a permissible level of 1ppm prescribed by the World Health Organization, WHO. Atleast 12 people are reported to have died of fluorosis in the last six years.

Observing that the contents of the media report, if true, raised a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the people in the district, the Commission issued notice to the Chief Secretary of the State Government calling for a detailed report within two weeks.

He has also been directed to specifically inform about the action taken by the State Government for controlling the level of fluoride in the ground water, providing potable water and medical facilities to the people suffering from fluorosis allegedly caused by drinking water with high fluoride content.

The Commission has also decided to depute its investigation team including an expert to visit the district for a factual report in the matter.

The media report, carried on the 16th August, 2011, alleged that there is no succor for Jharkhand's fluorosis-crippled Garwah district and the government official are cagey about the problem.

As per the report, almost every other house in the Pratapur, a hamlet of 70 dalit families in the district has a person crippled or bed ridden due to flourosis. The fluoride level in water taken from hand pumps in Pratapur is more than twice the permissible limit of 1 ppm. All the fluoride control machine installed in the village hand pumps five years ago are reportedly either defunct or have been stolen. However, Special Secretary, Health claims that they have not received any reports on fluorosis from Garhwa.

*****