Odisha: Thirst Forces Women In This Sundargarh Village Trek Miles To Fetch Water

Sundargarh: Women walking miles with pitchers on their head is a familiar scene in Dumdumpada village under Rajgangpur block in the district.

With drinking water scarcity getting worse by the day and perennial water sources drying up, the villagers have turned to a stream miles away to meet their daily needs.

Around 15 families who live in the village have been facing acute water crisis for years together with no solution in sight as the administration has done little to ensure regular supply of water during the peak summer months.

The lone tube well in the village been dysfunctional since the  last five months. With the traditional water bodies like ponds and rivers drying up quickly with raising summer heat, womenfolk of the village have to trek miles to collect drinking water from the stream.

"It’s just early summer and we are living at the mercy of nature. What is worrying is that the groundwater is depleting day by day. The administration is not paying any attention towards our ordeal despite several requests," said Srimati Pradhan, a villager.

"The Netas only come to our village to beg for votes during elections. They had assured us to solve the water crisis in the village several times but in vain," she added.

Responding to the situation, Rajgangpur BDO Piyush Kumar Lohar assured that necessary steps will be taken soon to resolve the crisis.

"We are taking stock of the situation. The village is situated atop a hill. So it's getting difficult to provide drinking water to the villagers by tankers. An assistant engineer has been sent to the village for an inquiry. We will take necessary steps to deal with water scarcity soon," said Lohar.