With the onset of summer, drinking water has been a key requirement of the residents. Yet, at several places in district here, the residents, mainly the rural populace, are suffering thanks to apathy of the RWSS officials.
Reports said as many as about 245 tube wells are lying unserviceable. And out of 350 tube wells, only 105 were rectified of late.
Further, the tube wells which are made serviceable are not delivering clear and clean drinking water, the villagers from several pockets alleged. In order to mitigate the drinking water scarcity in rural pockets in the district, while 86 projects were undertaken between 2017 and 2020, only 20 of them have been completed. 52 projects are partially completed and 14 couldn’t take off due to one reason and the other. The villagers under Nilgiri, Oupada and Khaira blocks have been suffering like anything.
They have been running from pillar to post for early completion of the drinking water projects, but in vain. Reports further added that in Nilgiri block, out of 11 projects, while eight projects are partially completed, three couldn’t begin so far. Similarly, in Khaira block, out of seven projects, two couldn’t be undertaken while five are incomplete.
And in Oupada block, out of six projects, two could not begin, while four are partially complete. Similarly in other blocks, including Basta, Baliapal, Jaleswar and Remuna, several drinking water supply projects either couldn’t begin or completed. Regarding the issue, DRDA PD Rabindra Sahoo said that he would check out with the RWSS department and ask the officials for necessary steps to mitigate the crisis.