Protests erupt in Odisha over drinking water woes

As the sun beats down with full intensity, water bodies across Odisha have begun to dry up. And without adequate drinking water supply from the government, people have started to stage protests and road blockades at several places.

Road blockades and protests have been reported from Bhanjanagar in Ganjam; Mahabiroad in Dhenkanal; and Nilagiri in Balasore.

Locals of Chhatarpur Panchayat under Balasore’s Nilagiri blocked the National Highway on Tuesday by placing empty earthen pots and other utensils on the road.

“People from four to five wards of Chhatrapur panchayat are here. All the tube wells in the area have gone dry. The PHD water supply did not reach our village which is at a higher altitude. Another water supply system has been set up but that too does not work as the pipes burst all the time,” said a local of Chhatarpur.

“We do not have any ponds or rivers in the area. Forget about bathing, people are finding it difficult to get water to drink as well,” he rued.

Similar pictures emerged from Bhanjanagar, where residents of Dihapadhal blocked the road demanding water.

per reports, the locals have been complaining of water shortage in the area for some days. But the administration has allegedly turned a deaf ear to their complaints, forcing the locals to take to the streets.

“The two tube wells the government has dug up in our village break down every other day. And the administration never pays heed to our problems. Even the water from these tube wells is not suitable for drinking as it has a lot of iron in it,” alleged a protesting local in Bhanjanagar.