A complaint dated 01-01-2025 was filed before the National Human Rights Commission, seeking the NHRC’s intervention regarding environmental pollution in Telangana, alleging that despite government acknowledgment, effective measures to mitigate the crisis remained inadequate. It was alleged that fluoride contamination in Telangana’s groundwater had reached alarming levels, as highlighted in the Annual Ground Water Quality Report, 2024, and in a news report.
After the NHRC’s direction, the District Collector, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri District, submitted an Action Taken Report stating that a comparative analysis of post-monsoon November 2024 and pre-monsoon May 2025 showed that the number of affected villages had increased by 9. The report submitted by the Director, Irrigation & CAD Department, mentioned that high fluoride concentrations in groundwater are commonly attributed to geogenic factors, such as weathering and leaching, rather than anthropogenic activities.
The complainant asserted that the problem was worsening rather than stabilizing, and that the mere identification of hydro-geological benchmarks without a concrete, enforceable implementation plan does not constitute meaningful remediation.
It was noted that the Action Taken Reports acknowledged the issue and stated that high fluoride concentrations in groundwater were commonly attributed to geogenic factors and that groundwater is inevitable at the source. NHRC disagreed with the statement that groundwater is inevitable at the source and stated that fluoride in groundwater usually comes from natural rocks but is not always present, as it depends on specific local hydrogeological conditions, which were not mentioned in the report.
Further, NHRC found that the report was silent on the measures being taken to prevent the spread of fluoride contamination, particularly since the District Collector had admitted that 9 additional villages had been affected.
The complainant also submitted that the report failed to provide a village-wise coverage date, failed to clarify the adequacy or quality of monitoring of the supplied water, and did not address last-mile connectivity, seasonal disruptions, or reliance on contaminated borewells in the absence of regular surface supply. It was noted that the report was also silent on the medical surveillance of affected people and preventive healthcare measures.
Thus, NHRC directed the Chief Secretary, Govt. of Telangana, to submit an additional report within four weeks.
Appearance:
Complainant – Advocate Y. Balachander Reddy
National Human Rights Commission Click here