After the declaration of 5-T by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, it was hoped that there would be transformational change in PHD in Keonjhar and every citizen would be be able to reap the benefits of the Kanjhari dam project, but all in vain.
Sources said that keeping in view the water scarcity of Keonjhar town, the Kanjhari dam which had been built with DMF fund, was completed a year ago. But due to alleged malafide practices of some corrupt officials in the PHD, Keonjhar ,there is creation of an artificial scarcity of water in the Keonjhar town and condition of people is the same as before.
On January 1, one Sarojbala Parida had deposited Rs 3,060 in PHD, Keonjhar to get a new water line connection. Since that day, she has been running frequently to PHD office to get the connection but sans any result.
In the meanwhile, she has also contacted Er Bhagbat Jena ,SDO,PHD Keonjhar who is in charge of approving new water connection but that too in vain. It is alleged that Jena had tried to ignore her genuine requests by taking different absurd pleas. Sometimes, he had told that there is shortage of staff and in other time ,there was no vehicle to attend the job. Lastly, he suggested the applicant to take the pipeline at her own cost. Being fed up , Pradumna Parida, Sarojbala' s husband who is an advocate by profession is contemplating to file a case in the proper forum to get the justice.
In another case , Ashish Kumar Parida who had no recorded land in his name had applied for a new connection just a month back but it is alleged that Jena without verifying his claim,had blindly approved his application and just a couple of days ago despatched the man and machinery to give water line connection to the disputed land.
However, dispute started when one Karunakar Barik objected to it and asked the labourer to stop the illegal work saying that the PHD, Keonjhar has destroyed his land by digging with excavator without taking his prior consent for the same. The version of Karunakar is that before approving such new connection, SDO Jena should have verified the proposal and get it approved by the concerned authorities or affected people but nothing of the sort was done.
It is alleged that some corrupt officials in PHD , Keonjhar are collecting bribes through mafias to approve illegal connections.