Fluoride contamination has been mostly detected beyond permissible limits in a total of nine areas in Palakkad, Malappuram and Alappuzha districts in Kerala, according to the State Environment department.
The places include Muthalamada, Pallassena, Agali, Sholayur, Koppannu and Vattalakki (Palakkad); Komalapuram-1, Pazhaveedu (Alappuzha); and Manjeri (Malappuram).
The source of contamination is probably geogenic in nature, which means these constituents are already in the rock or soil matrix and get into the groundwater through various chemical processes, according to a report dated February 16, 2024 filed by the department before the Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), New Delhi.
