Badasahi/Champua: Even as safe drinking water still remains a dream for people in many parts of the state, a project, though completed two years ago, is yet to be made functional at Barudisahi under Badasahi block of Mayurbhanj district.
With the temperature on the rise, people in Barudisahi area have been facing a lot of trouble in getting water. Water bodies, wells and ponds have dried up while the water table has gone down. Given the water problem in Barudisahi, Rameisahi and Rangadiha, the RWSS started construction of a tank with a capacity of 50,000 litres in January 2016. It took over two years to complete the related works.
Still, the project has not been made usable for the people who are now struggling to get water in the summer. There are three tube wells in the area, but they are not enough to meet the local water needs, it is learnt.
The locals had taken up the issue with the RWSS engineers to make the project functional, but no step has been taken. Engineer Abhimanyu Jena said that a tender will be floated for pipe-laying work and stand posts.
Meanwhile, water crisis has worsened in Karnjai Dhipasahi under Champua block in Keonjhar. Residents have been using water from a pit dug near a creek about ten years ago. Locals have to trek a km to fetch water from a tube well.
They have demanded adequate safe drinking water.
