Rourkela: A sharp fall in water level of river Koel, considered lifeline for many Steel City denizens, has set alarm bells ringing here.
The whole city reeled under acute water scarcity as most of the water sources dried up last summer.
The water table has gone down much lower than that of previous years, locals said, adding, PHD department and RSP authorities will have a bigger challenge in hands in coming days.
People blamed the state government when there was water crisis last season. The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of a barrage on Koel riverbank July 9, 2013 for conservation of river water. However, the project is yet to take off even as three years have since passed. Moreover, the concerned minister, responding to a question of local MLA Dilip Ray in assembly, clearly stated that there is no plan of setting up a barrage on the river in near future, it was learnt. The ruling party was under fire last year over the issue.
Meanwhile, people are in a state panic over what is in store for them. “The receding water level is an alarming sign for us. The prospect seems bleak as there is no immediate solution in hand,” Santosh Nayak of Shakti Nagar said.
Earlier, the Congress alleged that construction of multiple barrages in Chhattisgarh led to a sudden fall in water level in Koel as the origin of the river is in the neighbouring state. In such circumstances, the situation is likely to go beyond control during summer. However, RSP authorities have geared up to supply water from its Tarkera pump house to mitigate water woes during summer.
When enquired about the looming threats, PHD executive engineer Anup Kumar Patel said water flew at the right side of the river over several years which has swerved to left side ahead of summer season.
The situation is under control so far, Patel assured, adding, an alternative arrangement would be made if problems crop up in future. PNN