Keonjhar: Electrocution of an elephant at Kanjhari dam in the district has disrupted drinking water supply to Keonjhar town for a week.
Officials of the energy deparment disconnected the supply to the area following electrocution of the elephant in a jungle near Nekdaghar December 8, last week.
The officials snap supply to the area at night as a herd of 16 elephants moves in the jungle. They also disconnect power supply during day to repair transmission wires and utility poles passing through the forest.
As a result, thousands of families in Keonjhar town have been left parching without a drop of drinking water in their taps. The residents have demanded immediate restoration of the water supply failing which the situation might slip out of hand.
Reports said over 63,075 households in Keonjhar town are supplied with drinking water from Sana Machhakandana and Kanjhari dam.
Among the two dams, maximum water supply is made to 38,315 households in the town from Kanjhari dam.
The residents face water supply problems throughout the year due to frequent power cuts and leakage in pipes in various areas.
However, after the animal was electrocuted, water supply to the town has come to a halt due to complete power cut during day and night. This has left the residents to suffer without drinking water.
Senior resident Mansoor Alam alleged the problem has taken place as the officials have not installed a DG set without proper earthing works in the Kanjhari dam. He alleged that nobody is concerned about the problem.
He said that those who have dug up bore wells are unmindful of the problem but the common residents are the ones who are suffering the most.
When contacted, Kishore Rout, executive engineer, public health engineering department (PHED) said it requires 15-16 hours uninterrupted power supply for supply of drinking water to the households in the town.
However, the problem arose after power supply was cut off to the area due to the movement of the elephants in the forest. The energy department has been asked to immediately restore the power supply which is expected to resume within a day or two, he added.
BN Sahoo, executive engineer of energy department said power supply is being cut off at night due to movement of elephants in the area while it is also being cut off during daytime for repair and maintenance works.
He, however, assured to resume power supply for 12 hours in the area within a day or two.
PNN