On the arrival of summer, around 6 lakh residents in Dhenkanal district are living with the threat of severe water scarcity. The groundwater level has fallen drastically, leading to fast drying of water bodies.
Pond water is not fit for human consumption as the urban bodies and Panchayats have leased out ponds to private bidders for purpose of fishery. Almost all ponds are full of weeds and mud which the administration has not cared to lift.
The Brahmani river has been polluted by industrial effluents for the last 37 years. The water supply system implemented in Dhenkanal has not been significantly developed, even though the population growth has doubled.
Several project proposals were sent earlier on joint effort of the Dhenkanal Municipality and local PHED officials did not obtain financial approval either at the State level or at Center due to lack of coordination and political will of the elected leaders. Curiously, the project proposals from Angul, Talcher, Nayagarh and Jajpur for drinking water purposes have obtained financial approvals. However, the Assistant Engineer, PHED is hopeful that a project proposal of Rs 30 crore for the supply of drinking water in Dhenkaanl township will be approved soon.
The project under Urban Infrastructure Development in Small and Medium Town (UIDSMT) is approved with financial provisions by the State and the Centre at the ratio of 80:20.
Once the project materializes, the water supply time span will be doubled by erecting five over head tanks in different localities. The intake wells at Brahmani river bank will be converted from bore wells to open well system. The ongoing water Treatment Plant of 6 MlD (million liter per day) capacity will be enhanced to 16 MlD capacity.
When questioned regarding provision of present water supply system in Dhenkanal township, the Assistant Engineer told that even though the residents of Dhenkanal town need 12 MlD water at the rate of 160 litre per head, the PHED under the available system is capable to supply five MlD to six MlD water for 45 minutes in a day. In Dhenkanal township the number of legalized connection are 1,325 while around 200 consumers are using the pipe water illegally. Reportedly, all the 272 stand posts to supply drinking water are lying defunct at present. Only water is being supplied through tankers.
However, the PHED official revealed that, they draw three MlD water from seven production wells at Brahmani river base. The overhead tank constructed at Korihan hill has collapsed. The water available from Brahmani base though is polluted with high iron content the PHED use only chlorination process to purity the drinking water.
The Assistant Engineer said 18,000 residents at Bhuban NAC are provided water by 90 tube wells and 98 stand posts. Around 12,000 residents of Kamakhyanagar NAC are availing water supply facility from 85 bore wells and 78 stand posts. The domestic connection for drinking water supply through pipe in Kamakhyanagar NAC is 295. PHED draws 1.5 MlD water from the river base of Ramiala to cater to the needs of the residents of Kamakhyanagar.