Water crisis deepens in Balasore village as defunct tube well leaves 60 families struggling

Residents of Madhia village under Singakhunta panchayat in Soro block of Balasore district are grappling with a severe water shortage, as their only tube well, installed nearly 20 years ago, has become dysfunctional. The worsening crisis has forced dozens of women to queue for hours each day just to collect a small quantity of water.

According to reports, the tube well, which serves as the sole source of water for nearly 60 families in the village, now yields little to no water. Villagers have expressed frustration that despite raising the issue multiple times, the government has failed to take meaningful action.

One villager shared her frustration and said, “We face problems every single day. We wake up in the dead of night to stand in line, but the water does not come out at all. This is the only tube well for so many people. We cannot cook or do any other work without water.”

Another woman shared her distress: “I have been queuing since 3 am and had to leave my young child at home alone. It is scary and worrisome, but I have no choice. There is no one to look after my child while I wait for water.”

The villagers also noted that the pipeline set up by the government is dysfunctional. “Authorities keep saying they have arranged a water supply or will do so, but nothing ever happens,” said another resident.

As summer intensifies, the community’s demand for a permanent solution has grown more urgent. However, they continue to suffer daily, dependent on a single, barely functioning tube well.