Baripada/Champua: Amid soaring mercury, water crisis has gripped most parts of Baripada in Mayurbhanj district. Upset over the short supply of water, the residents, particularly women staged an agitation by blocking the Baripada-Chitrada road for three hours Tuesday.
Carrying empty pitchers and buckets, the women laid siege to the road at 9 am and the blockade continued till 12 pm. Vehicular movement was disrupted for hours.
The women alleged that they have been facing a lot of difficulty in arranging drinking water due to lack of supply.
Later, the police and officials of the public health engineering organisation held talks with the agitating women and assured them that the problem will be sorted out soon.
A report from Champua in Keonjhar district said people at Majhisahi under Champua block were water-stressed. They have to trek a long distance from their village to fetch water with the mercury hovering over 42 degree Celsius.
The villagers said that the lone tube well has been lying defunct for a long time. Despite repeated complaints, the rural water supply and sanitation authorities have failed to take any measures to get it repaired.
Expressing their displeasure over the official apathy, the residents demanded immediate measures to set the tube well right.
PNN
