Keonjhar/Jhumpura: Crores of rupees are being spent for sorting out drinking water problems in rural areas, but many remote and tribal pockets under tribal-dominated Bansapal block and Keonjhar block are reeling under a severe water crisis. In some areas, local residents have no choice but to drink water from hill streams, creeks and pits over years.
Rengalabeda, a hillock village in Kadagala panchayat, is a case in point. The hamlet is a picture of neglect with people deprived of the most basic of facilities. Over 600 people reside in the village. The tribal residents depend on agriculture and minor forest produce.
Their foremost problem is non-availability of drinking water. The village lies on the borders of Jhumpura block. Kaijoda stream flows near the village and plays the role of a dividing line between the two neighbouring blocks.
Locals say there is no irrigation facility for their farmland. “The stream is the only source for both irrigation and drinking water. The village is beset with multiple problems,” they lamented.
The villagers say there is a tube-well, but it often remains out of order. Even after repairs, the tube-well pumps up muddy water, locals said. The government has set up a school, but it is of no use for their wards, because teachers play truant for days together. An Anganwadi centre is there but it has no building. It runs from the school building. “Cooked food is not available here,” they said.
Despite the state and Central governments pushing their own rural electrification drives, a steady supply of electricity has eluded the villagers. They also have no access to healthcare even as the area is identified as highly vulnerable to malaria.
Local residents like Budhu Munda, Sania Munda and Dende Munda said they had drawn the attention of the administration several times in the past, but in vain.
“As we have no safe source of drinking water, we are compelled to drink water from the stream,” rued some women such as Kalpana Apat, Mandakini Apat, Alo Apat and Pati Apat.
BDO in-charge Aswini Meher said steps will be taken to alleviate the drinking water problem.
Engineer of RWSS Gopi Soren said the problem will be looked into and water will be supplied to the village through tankers as an initial step.
Similarly, people of ward-12 of Keonjhar municipality were upset over drinking water problem. They expressed their unhappiness over the alleged apathy of the district administration and the PHED authorities to sort out the problem. Though piped water supply is there in their ward, it is insufficient for the residents. Water is supplied every alternate day, they pointed out. They also alleged that when they contact the engineer concerned about their problem, the latter disconnects the call.
A group of women had earlier met the district administration June 12, but to no avail. PNN
