Kolimati/Jhumpura: Even as temperatures soared over 40 degree Celsius in various parts of the state, many remote and inaccessible pockets under Anandapur and Bansapal blocks in Keonjhar district went through sever water crisis.
With safe drinking water out of their reaches, people have to consume contaminated water from streams and pits.
Take the example of Kumad Bhima sahi of Kolimati panchayat in Anandapur block. 15 tribal families live in the village. RWSS has drilled a tube well, but its water is not drinkable as it is muddy and contains dust particles, locals alleged. Some families said they are bound to drink dirty water from an unprotected well.
Drinking unsafe water has caused diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases, they said.
The villagers seemed to be frustrated over lack of basic facilities. “Being poor and tribals, no officials care a fig to our problems. We have appealed to the sarpanch and ward members to make provision of safe drinking water, but no step has been taken,” they rued.
Sarpanch Utara Dhir said drinking water provision will be definitely made.
Worse is the situation at Kendughati village in Phuljhar panchayat under Bansapal block. Five tube wells in the village have become defunct, forcing the tribal residents to trek two km from the village to fetch water from pits dug in the bed of Manada river.
“We had urged several times the block administration to set the defunct tube well right. But the problem is the village is inaccessible in the absence of a road. The technicians are unable to reach the village,” said residents like Gobinda Dehury, Ganda Munda, Mata Munda, Sitei Munda, Buchu Munda, Bhagwan Munda and Jai Munda.
The tribal village is on the foothills of Mayuranachuni hill and sandwiched between Baitarani and Manada.
The villagers go through untold miseries during monsoon when the village is cut off from the rest of the world.
RWSS engineer G Soren said, “We have not been to the village for our preoccupation. We will try to repair the tube wells.”