PILing up pressure
On November 19, the Allahabad High Court (HC) ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to file an affidavit within three weeks indicating steps taken to prevent, treat and control fluorosis in Chopan block of Sonbhadra district. It also demanded details of the measures taken to rehabilitate the affected villagers. The court acted on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by Louis Mascrenhas of the Allahabad-based Diocesan Development and Welfare Society (DDWS) on behalf of 18 villages.
The PIL contends that these villages are suffering due to high fluoride content in the area's groundwater. The petition has levelled the charge of "culpable negligence' against the district magistrate (DM) and chief medical officer (CMO) of Sonbhadra district. It has also sought an immediate comprehensive health programme for verifying, by X-ray and other tests, whether the cause of the disability is actually fluorosis.
"For the past one and a half years, I have been urging district officials to do something about the problem of fluorosis in these villages. But they refused to budge,' says Mascrenhas. "I visited the affected areas recently and realised that the administration would not act unless pressure was put on it. Hence, the pil, ' he adds.
Amar Saran, his lawyer in the case, says: "The numbers of those afflicted have increased over a period of time. These villagers even organised a rally, but nothing could stir the government into action. I visited the village along with Mascrenhas and, realising the gravity of the situation, decided to take up the cause.' Both the dm and cmo said they would comment on the issue only after receiving the court order in writing. The state's principal secretary, medical, health and family welfare, was not available for comment.
Related Content
- Kenya Faces Worst Drought in 38 Years
- Northern China air quality worsens in January-July: ministry
- Kenya: Dry Spell to Cut Rice Yield By Half
- Japan's nuclear restart may be delayed until 2015
- Mandur dumping to end in five months; govt to give it in writing
- German 'green revolution' may cost 1 trillion euros - minister