Buguda: Residents in Karasingi village under Buguda block in Ganjam district are reeling under a severe water scarcity as a drinking water project constructed for them is lying defunct thanks to lack of maintenance for the last two months.
As a result of the administration’s indifference, over 500 families in Danda Sahi, Barisahi, Gudi Sahi, Chaitanya Prasad and Harijan Sahi localities in the village are fighting an uphill battle to procure clean drinking water at a time when the summer is at its harshest.
Sources said a drinking water project was launched at Karsingi in 2014 where the administration had planned to draw water from the river Baghu through pipelines and then supply it to residents.
A pump-house, an overhead tank of 75,000 litres and 14 stand posts were constructed at Karasingi for the purpose. The report spread cheer among residents as they felt their long cherished demand of getting clean drinking water would be fulfilled.
While five stand posts are now in a dilapidated condition, the pipelines laid to draw water from the river are in a similar condition as the administration did not bother to maintain it regularly after the project was completed.
The people are drawing water from the few wells and tube-wells in the absence of drinking water facilities. However, the tube-wells have failed to meet their need as several of them have stopped pumping water due to a sharp fall in groundwater levels.
The villagers have brought the matter to the notice of the block development officer and junior engineer but the problem is yet to be resolved.
A local voluntary outfit Maa Thakurani Yuvak Sangha has demanded immediate supply of drinking water.
When contacted, executive engineer Tushar Kanta Sahu and junior engineer Santosh Kumar Dash said the onus of supplying drinking water to the villagers lies with the panchayat for which enough funds have been sanctioned.
Panchayat executive officer Seshadev Behera feigned ignorance on the development but said he would look into the demands if villagers came forward to lodge a complaint. PNN
