The indefinite dharna by the Brahmapur Nagarik Manch led by former Assembly Deputy Speaker and social worker Rama Chandra Panda was called off on Saturday afternoon following a written assurance by the officials of PHD Engineering that an adequate number of tankers would be deployed in Brahmapur city to meet the water scarcity faced by denizens during the ongoing hot summer.
The written assurances also included an early implementation of the Janabilla-Dakshinpur pipe water project which is in limbo for last two decades.
It may be noted that the water crisis in Brahmapur city has worsened further as the supply from the 'deep collector wells' which used to provide 20 MlD (million litre per day) of water against an actual requirement of 60 MlD has now dropped to a mere 10 MlD.
In addition to this, from the Rushikulya system and tube-wells the city is getting 20 MlD of water totalling 30 MlD against the requirement of 60 MlD.
Panda has told the denizens that if the PHD does not provide water by tankers in all the 40 wards under the BMC, it may be brought to his notice so that he would sort out the problem with the PHD authorities.