The Brahmapur Children Federation (BCF) on its 13th meeting observed ‘World Water Week’ here with an aim to provide adequate water to all slums and make Brahmapur a child-friendly smart city. Children on the occasion demanded provision of safe, clean, hygiene, adequate and affordable drinking water to all slums in the city. The BCF urged the Government and the BMC to pay immediate attention on a number of issues including setting up of extra public taps and increasing timing of water supply to two hours and two times in a day. Over 170 children from 30 slums and 24 child club members participated and shared their concerns.
Child Club members like Sruti Sahu, K Dipu, Smarakirani Nayak, Sunil Sethy and Amit Das shared their experience. Notably, The Brahmapur city currently requires 54 Mega litre per Day (MlD) for its 3, 55,823 people. But the PHED is able to provide only 46 MlD. There is shortage of 8 MlD and the acute shortage is felt during peak summer. According to a study, 66 per cent of slums are not covered with official water supply while only 15.7 per cent of slum dwellers have tap at home connection. The supply of water is sporadic and the frequency of supply is only one hour per day while it is alternate days in some places.
