Telkoi: With the temperature gradually rising with each passing day, people in tribal pockets in Telkoi block of Keonjhar district have started feeling the pinch of drinking water shortage.
Scores of overhead tanks have become defunct while stand posts and underground pipelines have been in bad shape in 22 panchayats.
According to a report, the rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) department has built 22 overhead tanks in as many panchayats to supply safe drinking water to about 70,000 people.
It is alleged that except two or three overhead tanks, all others have conked out. In some cases, lack of electricity has thrown spanner in water supply. At other places, stand posts and pipes lie broken.
Besides, there are over 1,600 tube wells in the 22 panchayats, but 50 per cent of them are out of order.
With water not available from these projects, people were bound to drink water from streams, creeks and rivers, thereby making themselves vulnerable to water-borne diseases.
Locals alleged that the block administration has entrusted the maintenance of the projects with the pani panchayats but the latter have neglected them.
Funds are being provided to the pani panchayats for maintenance.
Locals said drinking water crisis has started appearing in many villages now and will worsen at the peak of the summer.
BDO Dillip Kumar Bara said necessary steps are being taken to sort out the drinking water problem after taking stock of the situation.
RWSS engineer, Binay Kumar Sahu, said overhead tanks will be made functional while tube wells will be repaired. The pani panchayats have been intimated, he added.
PNN
