GUWAHATI, March 8 � The Arsenic Knowledge and Action Network of Secunderabad, Telengana-based SaciWaters and the Fluoride Knowledge and Action Network of Gujarat Anand-based INREM Foundation, have joined hands to organise three training sessions in the city for civilians, government officials and physicians on fluoride and arsenic contamination of groundwater with the aim of setting up a resource centre on water health problems in Assam. The training sessions will begin on March 10.
The inaugural session will be held at the IIBM�s Khanapara auditorium here, while the second session for government and civic body officials on March 11, will be held in the Betkuchi-based WSSO conference hall of the Public Health Engineering Department, opposite Balaji Mandir here. The third session for physicians, scheduled for March 12, will be held at the Khanapara training centre of the State Health Department.
It needs mention here that the State is troubled with multiple problems created by poor water quality. Over the years, its impact on people�s health has been increasing and the present situation is that the State is having significant areas � that is nine districts under high fluoride in groundwater and 21 districts under high arsenic in groundwater. Apart from this, poor water quality has its toll on people�s lives in many other ways, said AB Paul, former chief engineer of the State PHED, who is advisor to the networks.
Although there have been several interventions to address these problems, a comprehensive look at the source of the problems, how to mitigate them from different fronts has been lacking.
