Bhandara Zilla Parishad’s water supply department has set target to make 132 villages fluoride free and one village which is 100% fluoride free will be provided with filtered clean water from next financial year. The scheme is being implemented under Bharat Nirman Project, said zilla parishad president Vasantrao Enchilwar.

ZP president further said that water in 132 villages of the district is unfit for drinking as fluoride content is high. Hence, water is being supplied to affected villages. Most of the water supply schemes are on the verge of completion and are expected to be completed by March 31. Waigaon village in Paoni taluka is severely affected by fluoride contamination. The villagers here are afflicted by bone deformities. The department had tried to provide water by means utilising other sources of water but that too proved futile and so the department has decided to install fluoride removal plant in the village.

Earlier, the work had been assigned to the village gram panchayat but due to dispute between contractor and the gram panchayat it could not be implemented. Funds for the scheme had been released but dispute put a spoke into the project.

Department has now taken over the project and fluoride removal machinery is being installed in the room specially constructed. Work is mostly completed and from April 1 every villager will be supplied fresh and clean water from the plant, Rs 9 lakh has been spent on the scheme. From next financial year Bhandara district will become fluoride free district.

Every family in every village of the district will be supplied piped drinking water in their houses. This ambitious scheme will come into force from next financial year, public taps in villages will be removed step by step, one HP solar powered water pump has been installed in Mendha village. It will become operational from last week, Rs 4 lakh has been spent on it. 100 meter pipeline and storage tank of 5000 litres is included in this scheme. ZP is contemplating on installing solar powered water pumps on bore wells in villages.

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