NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, INDIA 26. Fluoride contamination in drinking water in the Districts of Jharkhand (Case No. 1054/34/7/2011) 64 i. The Commission came accross a news report captioned “No succor for Jharkhand’s fluorosis-crippled district- living on the edge high fluoride level in underground water is maiming and killing people in Garhwa District; government officials are cagey about the problem” which appeared in the Hindustan Times dated 16.08.2011. As per the report, almost every other house had a person either crippled or bed ridden in Pratappur a hamlet of 70 Dalit families in Garhwa District of Jharkhand, as they had fluorosis, a disease caused by drinking water with high fluoride content. The fluoride level in water in several villages in the district was 3.5ppm (parts per million) as against a permissible level of 1ppm prescribed by the World Health Organisation. In Pratappur, the fluoride level in water taken from hand pumps was more than twice the permissible limit. All fluoride control machine installed in the village hand pumps five years ago were reportedly either defunct or have been stolen. Atleast 12 people were reported to have died of fluorosis in the last six years. However, Special Secretary, Health claimed that they had not received any reports on fluorsis from Garhwa. ii. The Commission on 17.08.2011 took suo motu cognizance of the news report and issued notice to the Chief Secretary, Govt. of Jharkhand, calling for a detailed factual report. He was also directed to clearly mention in his report as to what action has been taken by the government for controlling the level of fluoride content in the underground water in the district, for supply of potable water in the district and medical facilities to the affected people. . iii. The Commission also sent an officer from the Investigation Division accompanied by an expert to visit the district for a factual report. iv. The Commission received the report from Dr. T. N. Sathyanarayana, Asstt. Professor, Indian Institute of Public Health Bangalore Campus, Public Health Foundation of India on the action taken report/para-wise comments received from Govt. of Jharkhand on the recommendations made by the Expert Team constituted by the Ministry of Drinking Water, Sanitation & Rural Development, Govt. of India. In report, Dr. T.N. Sathyanarayana has made various suggestions. One of the suggestions was that the NHRC team should visit the District to assess the current action plan to provide safe drinking water to Pratapur Grampanchayath area of Garhwa District. v. Before taking any action in the matter, the Commission requested its Special Rapporteur for the State of Jharkhand to visit the place and give a comprehensive report regarding the action taken report given by the State. vi. Smt. S. Jalaja, Special Rapporteur filed a report regarding the problems of Fluorosis in the District of Garhwa. Various Short-Term and Long-Term measures have been suggested and ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19