Malkangiri: While the State government claims of commitment towards providing basic amenities including drinking water supply to all villages and rural areas across the state, at least 19 wards under Malkangiri municipality are still reeling under acute shortage of drinking water.
According to reports, piped drinking water supply project from Satiguda canal started six years ago and it failed to supply water to 10 wards in time. Basically, Naktimandir Sahi, Talasahi and Durgagudi areas were mostly affected as the denizens were deprived of drinking water supply for half of a month. Also more than 30 bore wells in the town are lying defunct and are yet to be repaired.
Resentment among the locals is brewing over the negligence of concerned authorities. Without redressing the grievance, they are left to suffer under this basic crisis.
“We are witnessing such problem in winter season then one can easily understand that the situation will be even worse during summer season, said a local. On the other hand, the government’s project has gone haywire as there is no specific time of the drinking water supply,” he alleged.
Left with no information about the water supply, women of the area have to wait for hours near the pipes in the afternoon daily, and the time of water supply in the area depends upon the wish of the concerned departmental staff, he further alleged.
Some women of Durgagudi area also alleged that while water is now being supplied after a day of interval, water supply in the afternoon has been stopped for the last two years.
Moreover, use of electric motors by several families has caused depletion of the water flow as a result of which the locals fail to collect their required amount of water.
Although, the concerned authorities are aware of the problem, they have turned a blind eye towards our woes, one of the locals alleged.
On the matter, junior engineer Gourab Kalo said the problem is arising due to regular power cuts. Power supply is being disconnected for about three to four hours a day. So, we are unable to lift the water through electric motor during this period, he clarified.
PNN
