Sonepur village still grappling with drinking water problems

Sonepur: Residents of Bankighirdi village of Sonepur district have been living amid acute drinking water shortage. Even though pipes have been laid and water stand posts have been erected, residents are not getting water -thanks to defunct tube wells, leaking pipes and above all, government apathy.

Elaborating about the issue, villager Aranga Sahu said “Neither the tube well nor the water tank is functioning. Besides, there are leaks in the pipelines laid for the drinking water project.”

“We fetch water from a tube well which is situated far away. We have apprised the administration about the issue; but no one pays any heed,” said Jagdish Sahu, another resident.

Another villager Padmavati Chhanda said “Several meetings have been held, but no one has been looking into the demands.  We have to travel two kms to fetch water.”

According to sources, the Rural Water Supply department had spent Rs 18 lakh for the drinking water project in the village.

Repair work is being carried out and within a few days, the service will be restored, said Ranjan Kumar Putel, Junior engineer of the Rural Water Supply department, Binika.