ROURKELA: The depleting Ib river has exacerbated drinking water crisis in Sundargarh town this summer.For the last several days, woes of the town residents have worsened in absence of adequate piped water supply. The situation has arisen as Ib’s water flow is not reaching the intake well point of the Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO).
Alarmed by the development, Sundargarh municipality chairperson Tanaya Mishra and WATCO general manager PK Mohanty on Wednesday took stock of the situation. As a temporary measure, the river bed near the main intake well at Satnagarh was dredged to allow accumulation of water.
Former president of Sundargarh district Congress committee BM Tripathy said the water flow in Ib river is drastically reduced throughout the year except the rainy season. Usually during summer, the river is reduced to a thin stream. But this year, Ib has completely dried up with water accumulating in scattered deep pockets on the river bed with no flow.
Tripathy further claimed that for the first time, the town’s piped water supply was discontinued for a day. Now, individual households located near WATCO’s main supply pipelines are getting only 10-20 per cent water.
Sources said Sankara, Mundapada, RRIT colony, Rangadhipa, Regent Market area, Patrapali, Mundapada, Khadiapada and many other areas are reeling under the drinking water crisis. A few residents who have deep bore wells are spared of the water woes while majority of the population are facing an acute shortage. With depletion of the groundwater level in the prevailing intense heat wave conditions, the tube-wells are not able to yield enough water.
Admitting that water is scarce at the source point, Mohanty said so far, they have been able to supply more than the town’s water demand of 8.89 million litre per day (MLD) from the available water near the intake well. The water holding capacity of the river needs to increase either with release of water from Chhattisgarh or from heavy rains. Else, the situation may turn grimmer, he added.
Sources said with investment of Rs 46.12 crore in recent years, Sundargarh town has augmented water filtration capacity and distribution networks. It is being claimed that almost all households in 19 wards of the town have been connected with piped water supply. Meanwhile, two in-stream storage structures on Ib river are coming up at Kopsingha and Kudabaga.