Aradi: In yet another case of rural neglect, people of Palatpur village in Nandapur panchayat under Chandbali block in Bhadrak district, are compelled to drink contaminated water.
The village has a population of 1000, but they suffer a lot in the absence of basic amenities like road and drinking water. Adding to their woes are periodical natural calamities when high tides inundate the village and turn the soil saline.
After recent cyclones, the drinking water problem has become more acute, locals said. Endorsing their grievance, ward member Manoranjan Bhoi said, “Drinking water has been scarce. Though we have taken up the issue at gram sabha time and again, no step has been taken.”
The RWSS has set up a drinking water project at Koilakha, but it has almost become defunct. “The project worked smoothly for about six months, but became defunct. Water is not available at standpoints. The village has three tube wells, but one of them is not working. Another tube well goes out of order most of the time,” locals said.
“As to the other tube well, water-logging around it has made its surroundings nauseating and dirty because no provision has been made for waste or spilled water to go. As a result, we can see swarms of worms in muddy pools. The contaminated water percolates into the tube well. Though the surroundings are nauseating, we have no way but to use the tube well water for drinking, cooking and bathing,” the residents said.
The villagers said that use of such dirty water is a major health problem. However, a pond in the village serves other needs of the residents.
The villagers demanded setting up of two more tube wells besides repairing the existing ones and a drinking water project at Palatpur. They stated that they will submit a memorandum to the collector.
BDO Manoj Kumar Patra said that he was not aware of the water problem in the village. He assured that steps would be taken to repair the tube wells and if necessary, new tube wells will be set up. PNN
