Balasore, Aug. 11: The state government has geared up its machinery to tackle fluorosis. It has deputed an expert team to Bhograi area in the district to take stock of the situation there.

The chief consultant of the rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) department visited Jayramapur village of Bhograi block bordering Bengal.

R.P. Mishra, former chief analyst and chemist of the department, was deputed by the state government following media reports that the people of the village were infected with fluorosis after using water from tube wells.

While Mishra made an on-the-spot testing of the water samples yesterday, he visited other adjacent villages of the block today.

“Tube wells, having depths of 60 to 160 feet, which were dug up privately, are delivering water high in fluoride content. Even water bodies like ponds havimg a depth of 40 feet also have fluoride, but within the admissible limits. The content within 0.5 mg per litre is absolutely safe for consumption,” said Mishra.

“I have recommended testing the water of private tube wells of neighbouring villages as well as other blocks of north Balasore. As we found fluoride beyond permissible limits in this village, we fear water from other tube wells in the belt too might have a high content of flouride,” he said.

While testing water from sources installed by the government in certain cases, high iron content was also detected, said Mishra, adding that he would advise the department to take remedial measures .

The high fluoride content in water has been generally seen in some patches of Nayagarh, Kalahanadi and Nuapada. “Since for the first time fluoride content above 0.5 mg per litre has been detected in the ground water in Bhograi, we can’t take a chance. Therefore, I suggested the department to carry out testing of all tube wells dug up privately in Balasore,” said Mishra.

The RWSS department has started measures to educate people and it has also put a “red cross” sign on each tube well dug by individual households.

“We have already undertaken an awareness drive. We are urging people to use only water supplied by the government. Leaflets would be circulated on the ill effects of high fluoride content in water asking people to refrain from using the water of their tube wells. We are trying to enhance our water supply capacity to cater to the needs of the inhabitants,” said sub-divisional officer Narayan Prasad Gandhi.

“Bhograi block has nearly 10,000 private tube wells. Today, we would be carrying out sample checks in adjacent villages. We would carry out similar checks in Jaleswar, Baliapal and Basta blocks, too, as recommended by our consultant,” he said.