Residents of Bantlapalli in Atmakur mandal of Nellore district have been facing severe drinking water problem for the last few years. The village has 500 people and residents suffer from kidney and skin diseases, many becoming disabled as the water available in the village has high quantity of fluoride content. People who are in their 40s have aged and doctors have been advising them to leave the village instead of going for treatment. People have to walk nearly 1.5 kms to the adjacent Khansahebpet village of Marripadu mandal to fetch drinking water. However, they return empty handed if the rural drinking water scheme does not work due to power failure. Residents of Khansahebpet village initially quarrelled with residents of Bantlapalli saying that the water available was not sufficient for them. Nearly 10 people, including brothers Kancharla Pedda Venkata Ramanaiah, Chinna Venkataramanaiah, Penchalaiah, Surepalli Venkataiah, Thodeti Penchalaiah, Mekala Ramanamma are suffering from various kidney ailments after drinking the water in the village. The residents developed rashes on their skin, swelling of the stomach, legs and hands. Eight-year old Kacharla Sunil was disabled after drinking water in the village, sources said. Some residents have undergone treatment at super-speciality hospitals in Chennai and Nellore, spending huge amounts. "I have become a kidney patient after drinking water in the village. All doctors whom I have approached have advi-sed me to leave the village, but how can I leave the place of my birth?" said Kanchala Pedda Venkataramanaiah.