Chhattisgarh village battles fluoride-contaminated water; health crisis deepens

Residents of Kanthiyapara, a remote hamlet in the Baikunthpur block of Korea district, continue to face a growing health crisis linked to contaminated drinking water.

Groundwater in the area contains excessive levels of fluoride and arsenic, and prolonged consumption has resulted in a range of health issues among villagers — from stained and blackened teeth to joint pain and, in severe cases, skeletal deformities.

Mithelesh, villager, "There is a water problem here. The water contains fluoride, because of this, elderly people's backs have become bent, and children's teeth have deteriorated.."

Omprakash, Villager:

"There is a drinking water issue here. It contains fluoride. A plant to supply clean water was installed here, but it's not functional anymore."

Despite earlier interventions, the situation remains unresolved. Fluoride removal plants set up in the village have stopped functioning, leaving residents without access to safe drinking water.

Manoj Thakur, Executive Engineer, PHE Korea, says, "Earlier, fluoride removal plants were installed here by the department, but due to improper operation and maintenance, they are currently non-functional. At present, there is a water quality issue. This village has been approved under a Group Water Supply Scheme in the Jal Jeevan Mission. The project is currently at the tender stage, and once the tender process is completed and implementation begins, clean and safe drinking water will be provided to these villages."

Authorities say the village has now been brought under the Jal Jeevan Mission’s Group Water Supply Scheme, which is currently in the tender stage.

Until the project moves forward and delivers results, villagers remain dependent on unsafe water sources, with no immediate relief in sight as they await a permanent solution.