Villagers block road in Balasore's Nilagiri over drinking water crisis ahead of peak summer

Villagers staged a road blockade near Matiali Chhak in Nilagiri block of Odisha’s Balasore district on Monday, protesting an acute shortage of drinking water even before the onset of the summer season.

To draw the attention of the authorities, local residents placed pots, buckets, and other water containers across the road, alleging that the area has been facing recurring water scarcity for a long time. The protest highlighted concerns that despite the launch of a mega drinking water project, water supply in the locality remains irregular and unreliable.

Residents alleged that water is supplied only intermittently and that no permanent solution has been implemented to address the problem. They said the situation has worsened in recent days, causing severe hardship to the local population.

Traffic Disrupted

The road blockade brought vehicular movement to a complete standstill on the Jeypore–Naranpur connecting road, leaving vehicles stranded on both sides for several hours. At the time of reporting, local administrative officials had not reached the spot to hold talks with the protesters or restore traffic movement.

According to villagers, more than 1,000 residents in the area are affected by the water crisis. Many people are forced to walk several kilometres daily to collect drinking water, while those with household connections complain that the supplied water is often dirty and unfit for consumption.

Residents further alleged that similar protests had been held in the past, following which the administration arranged a temporary tanker water supply for a short period. However, they claimed the problem resurfaces once the interim measures are withdrawn.

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Demand For Permanent Solution

The villagers demanded an immediate and permanent solution to the drinking water crisis, stating that the situation had become alarming even before peak summer. The situation remained tense in the area at the time of reporting as protesters continued to press for prompt administrative intervention and long-term measures to ensure uninterrupted access to safe drinking water.