TRS, BJP spar over fluorosis in Munugode

HYDERABAD: The problem of fluorosis that plagued the former unified Nalgonda district in the past has come to the fore once again with leaders from TRS and BJP stepping up their war of words over the issue in Munugode Assembly constituency.

Adding to the fuel on Thursday, was a ‘grave’ that ‘came up’ mysteriously in the constituency to apparently mark the ‘death’ of a promise to set up a ‘regional fluoride mitigation & research centre’ at Choutuppal with a large picture of former Union health minister and incumbent BJP national president J.P. Nadda placed on it.

The latest stunt that was ‘noticed’ on Thursday morning, soon began making the rounds on different TRS social media platforms asking why Nadda had not honoured his promise.

With state ministers K.T. Rama Rao, and T. Harish Rao tweeting on the subject, it was not long before former Bhongir MP, Dr Boora Narasaiah Goud, who joined the BJP just the day before, waded into the battle declaring that he will conduct an ‘ante-mortem’ and ‘post-mortem’ of TRS claims.

On Thursday, both Harish Rao, and Rama Rao tweeted questions about Nadda’s promises for setting up a 300-bed hospital at Marriguda, the fluoride research centre in Choutuppal, and special assistance to fluoride victims.

“In 2016, as Union Health Minister, @JP Nadda ji promised but did his NPA government deliver? Just jumlas & jhoot is what BJP & Nadda is all about (sic),” KTR said, re-tweeting another tweet on the subject.

Similarly, Harish Rao asked Nadda as to what happened to his assurances, adding that the Telangana government had allotted 8.2 acres of land in Choutuppal for the research centre. He then said that Munugode voters will teach a lesson to the BJP and its leaders, who were never concerned about the problems of the people, but were now seeking votes.

Dr Goud challenged anyone from the TRS, including the ministers, to a debate on the fluorosis issue in Munugode constituency.

“On the one hand, the TRS, and its 100 MLAs and ministers camping in Munugode claim that the fluorosis problem was solved, thanks to safe drinking water supplied through Mission Bhagiratha. If the problem has been solved, then where is the need for a fluoride mitigation research centre?” Dr Goud asked at a press conference.

Dr Goud, a well-known surgeon, said “It is common sense. Where is the need for treatment for a non-existent disease?” He then added that safe drinking water was being supplied through the SLBC well before 2014 when TRS formed the government in Telangana.

 “Mission Bhagiratha is about two or three years old. If the TRS claims are right, then there should be children under the age of 12 displaying skeletal or dental fluorosis but this is not there. Now Boora is here (in BJP). The TRS should be careful. I am capable of ante, and post-mortems, and will prove TRS’ lies on fluorosis if its leaders come for a debate,” he said.