Focus on fluoride menace in Nalgonda

​Nalgonda: Attention-grabbing discussions, constructive analyses took place at famous Dasha-Disha programme organised jointly by HMTV and The Hans India at Laxmi Gardens in Nalgonda on Saturday.

Participants raised their voices on various issues, which require special attention and immediate redressal by the State government to realise the dream of “Bangaru Telangana.”

The fluoride issue became the centre of discussion in Disha-Dasha programme Opposition party leaders and various organisations slammed the government for not focussing its attention on eradication of fluoride menace once and for all, by providing drinking and irrigation water in all mandals.

The ruling party representatives, however, rebutted the charge by saying that government was making all efforts and in fact launched a project to provide potable water through Mission Bagiratha and irrigation water by completing old and proposed new projects.

Another topic, which took special attention is drought in the district. Most of the speakers suggested that the government to pay attention on drinking water needs of the public and fodder to cattle in the prevailing drought conditions in the district Initiating the discussion,

Jala Sadana Samithi convenor Duscharla Satyanaryana expressed his concern over the past and present governments turning a blind eye on fluoride problem in the district. He suggested that the government provide both drinking and irrigation water to all mandals.

Fluoride Vimukthi Porata Samithi convenor Kanchukantla Subhash said the worst-hit areas in the district are Munugodu and Devarakonda constituencies. He demanded that an AMRP pump be allocated to Devarakonda constituency and another pump to Munugodu constituency to provide safe drinking water to these highly affected areas.

CPI MLA Ravindra kumar, CPI (M) district secretary Julakanti slammed the government for its “double standards and false promises” during the elections. They recalled that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had promised measures to eradicate fluoride problem.

A social worker Rukmimini said the fluoride problem was not addressed because of weak leadership in the district and she requested all parties to stop blame game and put collective efforts to solve the problem permanently.

BJP leader and former MLA Sankineni Venkateshwar Rao said injustice was done to the district at the time of designing Nagarjunasagar project itself at Nandi Konda. He said when he was in TDP he guided both NTR and N Chandrababu Naidu on the need of lift irrigation projects in Nalgonda. He said interlinking of rivers was the only solution to provide drinking and irrigation water to all.

TDP leader Nelluru Dugaprasad said during TDP tenure only lifeline drinking project AMRP was constructed. Cherku Sudhakar slammed government on its anti-public policies. He said KCR had given Rs 5 crores to Tennis star but he was not ready to give Rs 5,000 pension per month to Fluoride victims.

Fluoride victim Amshula Swamy (34) said the government was giving water to Hyderabad from the district but failed to provide water to Nalgonda, which was hit by fluoride menace. He demanded that drinking and irrigation water be provided to fluoride hit villages of Munugode and Devarakonda.