Basta/Simulia: With temperatures steadily rising across the state, drinking water crisis is growing acute by the day in various parts of Basta and Simulia blocks of Balasore with water bodies in the area completely drying up.
Adding to the crisis, most tube-wells are lying defunct and an indifferent administration that is least bothered in repairing them is only exacerbating the plight faced by residents of scores of villages in the area.
In Basta, scores of tube-wells and even drinking water projects have been lying defunct for long in many villages. However, the rural water supply and sanitation department is accused by villagers of taking no steps to repair them.
All water bodies such as ponds, creeks and even rivers have dried up in 282 villages of 31 panchayats under this block. Locals said water flow has also drastically shrunk in two major rivers in the area.
Locals apprehend that the water crisis will deepen further in the coming two months when summer will reach its peak. They lamented that authorities are taking no measures to alleviate their crisis. “We’re worried as to how we will tide over the coming two months,” locals said.
Reports claimed that the rural water provision under tube-wells has completely flopped at Kundapur, Ranamundalai, Pathuria, Mulada and several other villages in Brahmanda panchayat.
A major drinking water project, which was set up about one-and-a-half years ago at a cost of `11.73 lakh at Haldia Pada, has been lying defunct. As a result, over 1,000 families in Mathani-1, Mathani-2, Sankhudi-1 and 5 were left in the lurch without water.
Reports said the locals have now no other option but to drink water from ponds. Consumption of contaminated water has led to an increased risk of contracting various illnesses, locals said.
Though locals have been repeatedly been demanding replacement of old underground pipes and repairing of the project, no action is being taken at the administrative level, said Anil Kumar Mohapatra, Mathani sarpanch.
Besides, another major drinking water project is lying incomplete at Chasipada village of Natakata panchayat. The project was undertaken in 2013, but its work was left abandoned.
People living in Bhandipur, Paninagar, Chasipada and Narayanpur villages are in the throes of an unprecedented drinking water crisis.
A report from Simulia said a tube-well set up at Bari Bazaar under this block pumps up muddy water, which is totally unfit for consumption. However, the authorities of the rural water supply and sanitation have failed to take note of the problem.
Locals alleged the tube well has not been dug to the required depth while sub-standard equipment has been used.
When contacted for the department’s version, Sukanti Bahera, an official, said there are 40 tube-wells in the area. PNN
