Dhenkanal/Cuttack: In a novel protest that should serve as a warning to other officials, two engineers, including an executive engineer, were dragged out of their office and taken on a walk by women of Ward nos 14,17 and 18 to show the pathetic state of water supply in these areas.
While Executive Engineer Mrutunjoy Pani was shown faulty tube wells in the area, Junior engineer Ashok Kumar Mishra was forced to inhale the foul smelling water.
Reena Rout, a resident of the area said, “We want piped water, not tube well water. Though we have registered repeated complaints, nobody listened to us. How will sustain if the well goes dry?”
On the solution to the issues raised by the local women, Pani said, “The housing board water will be brought in a pipe through Chandan Bazaar. I have asked the Assistant Engineer to study the feasibility. Otherwise, we will supply water through tankers.”
Meanwhile, women of Dock slum on the banks of Taladanda Canal in Cuttack carrying pots staged a protest in front of Health department office in the millennium city. They alleged that one tube well in their area is not enough to cater to the needs of the residents.
Tarabati, a resident of Dock slum said, “Though more than 300 families are residing in the slum, no water facility exists in the area. We are using the canal water for drinking and daily chores.”
Reacting to the charges, Khetramohan Sahu, Assistant Executive Engineer, Health department said, “In the summer season, we supply water in tankers. If the tube well comes under the health department, we will repair it immediately.
Villagers of Raduan village under Banshapala block of Keonjhar district have detained two tube well boring trucks for the past three days as their complaints regarding water troubles have not been addressed yet.