Srikakulam: In Srikakulam district, research into the causes of kidney disease is being revived after major delays. The investigation, which was halted during the YSRC government’s tenure, saw limited progress.
The previous TDP government (2014-19) had selected an organization for this research, but the YSRCP government did not provide sufficient funding, leading to a standstill. The ICMR received only Rs 50 lakh during the YSRCP administration, despite multiple requests.
Now, with renewed attention from the coalition government, a team from Columbia University in the US is set to visit Srikakulam. The region has a high number of kidney disease patients, and their plight is severe. The research was initially assigned to the George Institute in Australia by the TDP government, with an estimated cost of Rs 5.50 crores for three phases. The institute had already conducted tests on blood samples, local soil, water, and food, finding high levels of chromium, silica, and arsenic in the water.
The research revealed that kidney function was impaired in 16 out of every 100 individuals. The TDP government provided Rs 1.5 crores to the George Institute, while the YSRCP government allocated only Rs 50 lakh.
