After failing to get potable drinking water despite their persistent demands before the PRI members and district administration over last many years, the villagers of Girisahi village under Andara GP of Pattamundai block have threatened to boycott the upcoming panchayat polls.
The Girisahi village has a population of more than 300. The village has only one tubewell. But the tubewell’s water with high saline content is not fit for human consumption. Besides, the tubewell has been lying defunct for the last several months. As a result, the villagers have to depend on a lone well located at the beginning of the village.
Consumption of unhygienic water has led to several diseases among the villagers. Since there is only one well, the villagers have to create a rush around it for taking water. They have to wait near the well by holding buckets and pots.
“Every day, we have to wait for at least half an hour near the well to draw a bucket or pot of water and more often than not, feud erupts among the villagers near the well for collecting water,” alleged Pravati Giri, a villager.
Though a water tank with a capacity of one lakh litre was installed and it was inaugurated three years back at the panchayat, but the pipe water system is yet to be functional in the village, alleged Nayana Giri, a villager.
“The scarcity of drinking water problem is yet to be solved in our village. In this regard, we have knocked the doors of Sarpanch, MLA, BDO, district Collector and also submitted memorandums before the administration several times, but in vain,” alleged Mamata Giri, a villager.
The political leaders of different political parties generally visit the village during election time and promise to solve many problems of the villagers, including the drinking water. But once the election is over, they tend to forget it all, alleged the villagers, adding that they have decided this time to boycott the election if the water problem is not solved instantly.
Pattamundai BDO Bharat Chandra Parida stated that the problem would be solved soon.