Odisha villagers forced to queue, dig ground pits as clean water remains a luxury even in 2025

Presenting a dire state of infrastructure affairs and the lack of access to essential basic amenities, several villages in Odisha are left to grapple with a severe water shortage crisis amid the prevailing heat wave.

At a time when temperatures have crossed 40 degrees Celsius across most parts of the state, visuals and ground reports narrated the plight of people desperate for access to clean drinking water.

Long Queues for Drinking Water

Water crisis in Ward No. 12 of Shasan village under Chandabali Motto Panchayat in Bhadrak district is such that every morning, long queues form in the village with people rushing with empty vessels and utensils to collect drinking water supplied from tractor tanks.

To make matters worse, these tanks are often parked far away from the village limits, forcing residents to make long walks to fetch a handful of drinking water.

Local Residents Speak Out, Administration Assures

“We have sick people at home, and they need water, but none of the tubewells in the village are functioning. A water supply project has also been lying incomplete for years. The Sarpanch has been informed of the matter but despite assurances nothing has been done,” said Sumitra Sahu, a local.

Meanwhile, Pradeep Pallai, Sarpanch of the Matto Panchayat, stated that the local MLA has been informed and has assured necessary resolutions.

ALSO READ: Resolve drinking water problems within 7 days: Odisha Minister issues stern warning

Lakshmanpur Village: Tribal Families Struggle with a Muddy Pond

The situation is even more tragic in Lakshmanpur village under Kuluma Panchayat of Kanihan Block in Angul district. Despite being home to roughly 200 tribal families, a small, muddy pond stands as this place’s only source of water.

Moreover, a Basudha scheme project for clean water supply, commissioned for Rs 32.63 lakh under the previous BJD government, never saw the light of day. Although pipes and taps have been installed to supply water to every household, no water flows through them.

As a result, villagers are forced to drink the contaminated pond water, which is also used for bathing and washing utensils.

Collecting Groundwater from Dug Pits

Similarly, in the Galeri area of Ganjam district, drinking water remains a distant dream. In a scene reminiscent of ancient times, sources reported that people here are forced to dig water pits near a river to collect groundwater.

Nearly 300 families reside here, but there are not enough hand pumps, and the few that exist do not supply good-quality water. The situation has worsened to the point where even a few drops of clean water seem like a luxury.

Upon inquiry, departmental officials stated that a transformer had burnt out, disrupting the water supply from the water project.

ALSO READ: Cuttack residents wade through knee-deep water as nor’wester rain causes waterlogging

Urgent Need for Reforms

Despite the state advancing rapidly on the global stage with expanding cities and industries, the sorry state of affairs in its villages and hamlets casts a stark shadow that demands urgent administrative action.