Villagers of Manikpur under Birmaharajpur block are reeling under an acute drinking water crisis. With no provision of drinking water, people are forced to consume contaminated water from pits.
As per reports, the village has a population of more than 5,000. Villagers alleged that though there are more than three tube wells, they have failed to provide safe drinking water. Most of the tube wells ooze out saline water with yellowish colour.
Similarly, though a piped water supply project was implemented a few years back, one pump set has been lying defunct for the last five years. Similar situation is also prevailing in Dubla Gram Panchayat of Tarbha block here.
Locals alleged that though Minister Niranjan Pujari belongs to the Subarnapur district and he has been already in the Ministry more than 10 years, he has not taken enough initiative to resolve the water crisis. People of the Dubla gram panchayat demand to install a 1, 200 feet boring well and set up pipe water project in the panchayat.
Ugrasen Hati, a denizen of the village said the rise in temperature and decreasing ground water level have aggravated the situation in the panchayat. The defunct pipe water project is also a cause for concern. Despite frequent request to local MLA Padmanav Behera and departmental Officers, nothing has been done, he added.