TRS stages walk-out over fluoride issue

Hyderabad, Nov 14 (UNI) The Opposition Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) today staged a walk-out in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly in protest against the alleged denial of Krishna and Godavari waters to fluoride-hit Nalgonda district in the Telangana region.

Dissatisifed with Rural Water Supply Minister P Venkateswara Rao's reply to a question from Mr N Narasimaiah and other CPI(M) members, TRS floor leader G Vijayarama Rao alleged that the government had taken lightly the flourosis problem, which contaminated drinking water and irrigation water, crippling people of all ages, and led his party members out of the House.

Earlier, the minister informed the House that 16 projects costing Rs 371 crore were sanctioned for Nalgonda district to provide safe drinking water under Central and State sector schemes to 366 habitations. Of this, five projects were completed and six others were in different stages of implementation, he said, adding that the district would be made fluoride-free by March 2009.

The state government had asked the Centre to set up a regional centre of the National Institute of Nutrition to study exclusively about the fluoride problem, he informed.

Mr Narasimaiah wanted the government to cover all tribal habitations while implementing the projects, while CPI floor leader Ch Venkata Reddy pressed for early release of the 12th Finance Commission grants for these drinking water projects.

UNI