The urban areas in the district here have been reeling under acute water scarcity these days due to inadequate pipe water supply. Population growth, dipping of ground water and diversion of river water to industries have accentuated the crisis.
Sources said out of 11 lakh people residing in Dhenkanal district, 1.4 lakh are staying in the Dhenkanal municipality, Kamakhyanagar NAC, Bhuban NAC and newly constituted Hindol NAC. The residents of Dhenkanal municipality even though need 16 million liters per day (MlD) water; the prevailing water supply system is capable to supply 6 MlD only for 45 minutes in a day. Similarly, the people of Kamakhyanagar NAC and Bhuban NAC are getting 1.5MlD water each through 295 and 613 PHED connections, respectively, which is very negligible.
Interestingly, where as both the Center and the State are shedding crocodile's tear for the rural poor, reportedly, the provision of water supply has been possible for 3.2 lakh villagers only even though 9. 4 lakh people are residing in villages in the district. A comprehensive study reveals that though Dhenkanal is located in hilly range, dug well water was still available 25 feet below the ground level around 60 years back. But due to unrestricted tree felling and destruction of forest, apart from inviting environmental hazards, water level has gone down to 60 feet due to scanty rainfall.
Besides pollution of river water, digging of bore wells and huge consumption of water by the industrial houses have added to the woes of the locals. Moreover, ignoring the need of the locals, the urban bodies and panchayats have been allegedly leasing out the ponds to private bidders for fishery in order to generate money. Significantly, such acts lead the pond water quite unfit for human use and consumption.
Notably, though a project proposal worth Rs30 crore for development of water supply system in Dhenkanal township was sent to the Urban Infrastructure Development in Small and Medium Town (UIDSMT) for financial approval, it is reportedly still lying unnoticed due to lack of will power of the elected representatives. Meanwhile, Angul and Jajpur have managed to obtain the approval from the UIDSMT.
When contacted, a PHED assistant engineer here said, "Drinking water is being supplied in Dhenkanal town though 1,325 departmental connections, 272 stand posts and 242 bore wells. Besides, water is being supplied through tankers, when and where water supply is not possible through pipe due to power cut or disruption of pipe lines. Water is being supplied to Bhuban NAC through 98 stand posts and 90 bore wells. Besides, water is supplied through 85 bore wells and 75 stand posts in Kamakhyanagar NAC, excluding 295 domestic connections."
He assured that the ongoing water treatment plant at Brahmani river base of 6 MlD capacity will be enhanced to 16 MlD soon, while another project proposal worth Rs40 crore for supply of water in Dhenkanal is on cards.