Mohana/ Keonjhar/Koraput: As the entire state of Odisha is reeling under the continuous spell of severe heatwave, several districts of the state including Gajapati, Keonjhar and Koraput are facing an acute drinking water crisis.
In Ambagaon village under Antarba Gram Panchayat of Mohana Block in Gajapati district, drinking water scarcity has severely affected the local residents as the groundwater level in two sanitary wells in the village has dropped with the beginning of summer season.
Villagers claim that they walk for kilometres to fetch drinking water and that too from Chua (water collected by digging stream or river beds). They filter the contaminated water by using cloths to use it for their daily needs.
“Drinking water scarcity is one of the major problems for us. We collect polluted water and filter it with the help of a cloth and use it for domestic use. Time and again we were assured that we will be provided drinking water facilities, concrete road, pucca houses and money under KALIA scheme but nobody came to our village,” alleged one Subhanti Parida of Ambagaon village.
When asked about the matter, Mohana BDO Bansidhar Khosla said that the issues will be resolved soon. "The nonfunctional tubewells in the village will be repaired and steps will be taken to supply water through tankers," said Khosla.
Likewise, residents of Nipo village under Bansapal block of Keonjhar district are also struggling to get access to drinking water as four tubewells of the village have gone out of order. They alleged that despite repeated requests to repair the tubewells, none of the concerned officials made any efforts for the same.
Situation in Panasput village of Koraput district is no different as villagers struggle to get drinking water. Responding to the matter, Koraput BDO Narendra Nayak assured to look into the matter.
“I am aware of the problems. The tubewells in the village have some problems. They will be repaired in the shortest possible time,” said Nayak.