Community Participation in the Mitigation of Geogenic Fluoride Contamination in Drinking Water: A West Bengal Model

Abstract

Abstract

The water management issue is by no means an issue only for experts. The close linkages between community initiatives in mitigation approach and grass-root level technology transfer can bring a sea-change in the drinking water management in rural communities. The conventional set up of sectoral water management institutions is hardly capable of coping with the drinking water management in the rural areas. A wiser drinking water management calls for introducing a proper institutional framework, stakeholder’s involvement and participatory process. It is in this context, participation of women in decision making process, by more focus on water as something to share and care about, have much more significance in drinking water management. In West Bengal, sustainability of a community level water treatment device has been ensured in Malda district, where operation and maintenance is decentralised and the responsibility of O & M is borne by the beneficiaries. A water committee comprising members from the beneficiaries with five women members manage O & M of a Defluoridation Plant, by organising tariff collection, filter backwash with the assistance of local Panchayat. Ownership feeling of the community has ensured safe drinking water supply sustainable for a few years and resulted in the improvement of the health of the local beneficiaries. A wiser drinking water management is to increase water use effectiveness reducing pollution load and introducing more pro-active and radically improved water pollution abatement through community participation. A radical shift in safe drinking water management policy is needed in planning, implementing, managing and sustaining such vital resources by involving the communities.

Keywords: Community participation, Geogenic, Deflouridation, Water Commmitee, Stake holder

Cite this Article

Sunanda Jas, Sandhya Bhadury. Community Participation in the Mitigation of Geogenic Fluoride Contamination in Drinking Water: A West Bengal Model. Journal of Water Pollution & Purification Research. 2016; 3(2): 37–42p.