Deteriorating water supply system puts public health at risk in this Odisha village

Residents of Champajhar village under Banspal block of Keonjhar district are facing a severe water crisis due to the deteriorating condition of their drinking water supply system. The village's water project, which was established over ten years ago to bring water from a nearby spring, has fallen to ruins due to lack of maintenance. Moreover, the filtering system has completely collapsed, leaving the community to rely on unfiltered water.

The water tank has fallen into disrepair, with extensive leaks in the pipeline hastily patched. While water pools in some areas, other sections remain completely dry. Despite the poor state of the filtration system, residents continue to consume this unfiltered water, which flows directly from the jungle.

Ganesh Chandra Palei, a teacher in the village, highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating, “The source of the water tank needs repair, as the surrounding areas have been buried under muck. The people of this village are heavily dependent on water from the waterfall for cooking and managing some Rabi crop farming, such as potatoes and other vegetables. The administration needs to focus on this and resolve the issue urgently.”

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Constructed a decade ago to address the drinking water problem in Champajhar village, the project initially piped water from a spring on the hill to homes, schools, and Anganwadis through taps. Four tanks were built, along with a filtering system, to ensure clean water access. However, due to a lack of maintenance, the project has deteriorated significantly. The tanks are now nearly buried in the ground with muck, and the filtering system has been completely destroyed. In response to the ongoing crisis, local youth have resorted to tying bicycle tubes at the leaking points of the pipes to manage the situation.

Nakul Kamal, a resident, echoed the same and said, “The filter system requires urgent repairs. We have repeatedly approached the administration regarding this issue and submitted applications to the Panchayat emphasizing the need for repairs. Despite raising the matter in the Gram Sabha, our concerns have gone unheard, and no one seems to be paying attention to this critical problem.”

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Manasi Kamal, another villager, remarked, “Multiple taps are broken, and the main pipeline has leaks in several places. If the government addresses these repairs, it would benefit everyone by ensuring that all taps receive an equal water supply, unlike the current situation where some taps are completely dry.”

While hand pumps are available in the village, the water is unsuitable for use. The mega irrigation project is effectively inactive, leaving residents with no choice but to rely on the spring water, which poses a risk of disease due to its unfiltered state. Given these circumstances, it is imperative for the administration to take immediate notice and implement necessary actions to address the water crisis in the village.

In response to the community’s plight, Kumar Nagabhushan, PD DRDA, assured, “We will assess the filter system and carry out any necessary repairs or augmentations as soon as possible.” 

As residents await action, the need for immediate intervention from the authorities is more critical than ever to ensure safe and reliable access to drinking water in Champajhar village.