This is quite an irony. This Summer a whopping 1.5 crore population in Odisha will be crying 'Pani', 'Pani'. The story of water management in the State also seems to be in 'Pani', 'Pani' for running a shoddy show.
The drinking water crisis in the State will be acute this summer as the State has recorded a 37 percent deficient rainfall in March. The latest forecast shows below normal rainfall in April. The double whammy for the poor citizens in the State has been that over 95 percent of the population are depending on groundwater (borewell/tubewell), and nearly 45 percent of the wells here have registered a fall in water level by 2mt.
Watertight Scenario
As per the data available with Odisha Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, over 1.49 lakh habitations in the State are dependent on borewells or tubewell for their water needs, including drinking water. Another 278 habitations bank on water supplied from borewells/tubewells sunk on river beds, and these water sources are unable to pump adequate water to habitations during summer months.
The data with the government shows a total of 3,510 habitations in the State are not getting 40 litres per capita per day throughout the year. A total of 8.52 lakh face drinking water crises throughout the year.
Moreover, though the State Government claims that over 1.53 lakh habitations in the State are being provided with 40 litres of water per capita per day, there are nearly 61,870 habitations where the water supply drops below 40lpcd during the summer months.
As a consequence, over 1.4 crore population in these habitations may face an acute water crisis during the summer months. (April-May).
'Piped' Dream
As per the data available, only 37.17 lakh households in Odisha have piped water connections. A high of around 51 lakh households have no tap connections as of March 9. Nearly 58 percent of the households lack access to safe water in the State.
On the contrary, Bihar has over 172 lakh households as against 88 lakh in Odisha, still, tap water connection has been provided to over 89 percent of households in the State.
In the 10 aspirational districts, only 9.05 lakh households have piped water supply when there are a massive 24.45 lakh households.
Slippery State?
A look at the inputs provided by the Jal Shakti Ministry shows why Odisha slipped up in recording good progress in the pipe water supply.
- In the year 2021-22, the allocation to Odisha under the Jal Jeevan Mission has been Rs 3,323 cr.
- The Centre has released Rs 1661.7 cr to the State.
- But utilisation stands at Rs 826.56 cr
- The utilisation thus stands at 50 percent.
- States like Gujarat and Kerala have achieved 75 percent utilisation rate.
Why Laggard In Utilisation?
As per the Jal Shakti Ministry, the reasons behind 50 percent utilisation and only 42 percent coverage have been the following.
- Lack of dependable local source of water especially in drought-prone areas.
- Shortfall in matching State share and delay in transfer of funds.
Half-Hearted Planning?
Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, every village/ GP is to prepare its Village Action Plan (VAP) on the components like drinking water source augmentation & strengthening, developing water supply infrastructure, greywater treatment & reuse, and operation & maintenance.
Further, in consonance with the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution, under JJM, Gram Panchayat and/ or its sub-committee, i.e. VWSC/ Pani Samiti/ User Group, etc. need to be set up.
Odisha has formed Village Water Sanitation Committees (VWSC) in 24,389 villages. And the all-important Village Action Plans (VAP) have been prepared by only 20,217.
For this, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources is critical of Odisha for poor show in setting up VWSC or preparing VAP.
This leads to slow physical progress of JJM and low utilisation of Central funds. The nagging fact here is Odisha has set 2024 as deadline to supply piped water supply to all.
Missing Water Mark
The State has no watermark to show off as the majority of the village populace has no access to safe drinking water. Data shows there has been no water testing lab at the block level in the State. Moreover, only 11 percent of labs have the NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accreditation.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee has noted in its recent report that it is aghast over such reports submitted by the states. It has said, " The Committee, therefore, strongly recommend increasing the water quality testing laboratories across the country on a war footing by addressing the issue with utmost alacrity."