#fluoride in water #water #pollution #Agra #Pachgai Khera The water they drink poisons their bones.
Scores of people in Pachgai Khera, a village of some 500 residents, some 20 kilometres from Agra and off National Highway 44, are bent over or have their limbs twisted at the joints.
Many have mottled or darkened teeth.
Cataract is common.
It’s the same in the neighbouring villages of Patti Pachgai and Rohta.
The culprit: fluorosis, caused by long-term consumption of water with too much fluoride.
“If bringing water to the area is difficult, deep boring should be done.
Water obtained from 500 feet deep will be far better than what is obtained from shallow wells,” says Dr BS Yadav, the chief medical officer for Agra district.
Villagers say that, despite representations to the administration, nothing is being done.
They say it’s their destiny.” A borewell pump draws ground water, which is stored in a badly maintained tank and then piped to taps from which many villagers draw water.