Dubikhala, Balia, Ambadula, lembu , Rankia, Bandhaga, Bmanagar, Pimpudia, Kharadi, Patapur Bahalisahi , Kansa and many tribal dominated villages under Sukinda and Danagadi blocks in Jajpur district are in the grip of serious drinking water crisis in this summer.
At least 50,000 tribals of these villages either draw muddy water in small quantities from water holes on the fields or fetch it in pots from nearby village Jamuni and other villages about three km away.
The areas under Sukinda Assembly constituency have been suffering with acute water shortage since years and the villagers say no politicians has made any sincere effort to address the issue.
At least 12 steel industries at Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district as well as 14 chromites mines in Sukinda Valley are discharging industrial and mines wastes in the Brahmani system, completely disregarding the laws of the land, said noted trade union leader and former Minister Prafulla Ghadei.
“Acute water crisis has been a major issue in this part. Problems like unemployment and malnourishment among tribals still exist in this belt. Water is the root cause of the problems here. If the area gets its share of water, tracts of land can be cultivated throughout the year. This will directly give them employment and put an end to migration of tribal people,” added Ghadei.
The authority is concerned only to provide water to big industrial houses at Kalinganagar area of the district. But the authority pays only lip service to poor tribals. Unless there is a paradigm shift in our water policy and programmes, the water problem will persist, added Ghadei.
In these areas agriculture is more dependent on rainfall due to non availability of irrigation systems. Many locals face problems to raise paddy and other crops on their fields. But groundwater is exploited extensively by industries. The huge extraction and contamination of groundwater have caused major environmental problems in Kalinganagar industrial area. Several big industries and plants in Kalinganagar areas are exploiting underground water without obtaining proper permission from authorities, leading to a sharp drop in the level of groundwater.
The 800-km Brahmani river, the second largest river of the State, has not only been polluted to irreparable extent, but also poisoned greatly, posing serious threats to people of Sundergarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur and Kendrapada districts living along its sides. Industrial houses and mines owners are the major culprits. They are dumping industrial effluents and releasing muddy red water into the Brahmani system affecting the lives flora and fauna, added Ghadei.
When contacted, district Collector SK Mallick said, “The administration is providing water in tankers in many villages in this summer. All the damaged or defunct tube-wells have been repaired.”
