SAMBALPUR: Life was hit in Rairakhol Notified Area Council (NAC) on Wednesday following a bandh called by women of the area protesting water crisis. Government offices, business establishments, courts and banks remained closed. Vehicular communication, though, was normal.
Women under the aegis of Maa Laxmi Pratibeshi Mahila Samiti also staged demonstrations at various places of the town. They demanded early completion of the drinking water project for Rairakhol. Work on the project was stopped midway by the contractor concerned.
Under the project, water will be drawn from river Mahanadi at Kiakata and a 3.4 MLD water treatment plant would be set up for supply. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid foundation stone for the project in January 2013 and it was estimated to cost `24 crore.
Samiti president, Aparna Bag said of the total 13 Wards of NAC, only three are getting piped water supply.
At present, the PHED is supplying water to the township from two deep bore-wells. This apart, 50 PVC tanks with storage capacity of 1000 litres have been installed across the NAC and tankers engaged by the PHED to supply water.
Sub Divisional Officer of PHED (Rairakhol), Sanjib Patra said the firm that was assigned to execute the drinking water project, completed works worth around `11 crore before stopping it midway.
A fresh tender will be floated to complete the remaining works in May, he added.