PATNAGARH: With no sign of any let-up in temperature, the struggle for water has only intensified in Balangir district. While water scarcity is not a new problem for the people of the area, what is worrying is failure of the State Government to mitigate their woes even after decades of suffering.
Normally, PHED supplies more than 32 lakh litres of water to 15 Wards under Patnagarh NAC drawn from intake well in rivers Subarnarekha and Mayabati on the outskirts of the town.
Instead of increasing the supply after temperature started rising, the supply has dipped to 11 lakh litres in the last one month.
Presently, the NAC is able to draw 8 lakh litres of water while the 206 stand posts in the town refuse to ooze water. Adding to their trouble, water is supplied once in three days for a brief period failing to meet the needs of the people.
The only relief is the presence of some water in natural sources which is attracting people for daily ablutions. But people fear that it may not last till monsoon arrives. Moreover, at the time of crisis,
Hirabandh pond, on which the town depended for their daily needs, has been dried up by the authorities concerned for renovation work.
On the other hand, the trickling flow of water from 338 tube-wells in the town has made it difficult to even collect a bucket of water. Though water is supplied through nine tankers by PHED, the authorities admit that it would not be possible to continue with the arrangement for long as the source from which water is drawn has begun to dry, said sources.
The situation in rural pockets is also getting worse. Although RWSS claims to have restored defunct tube-wells, depleting ground water has made restoration and repair meaningless.
The State Government had directed that tube-wells be repaired before the onset of summer, but the apathetic attitude of the authorities have left the people struggling for every drop of water.
It’s raining fire in Western Odisha
SAMBALPUR/JHARSUGUDA: It rained fire across Western Odisha on Sunday as temperature shot up by a few degrees, throwing normal life out of gear across the region. While Sambalpur recorded 44.8 degree Celsius, the mercury in Balangir shot up to 45.2 degrees, surpassing Titlagarh’s temperature of 45 degrees on the day.
The maximum temperature in Jharsuguda stood at 43.9 degrees but residents in the coal mining areas of Brajrajnagar experienced at least three degrees more due to the presence of mines, which radiate heat. Other mining areas of Belpahar, Bandhbahal and Banharpali town area also had to bear the extreme heat.
Roads wore a deserted look and due to scorching heat, shops and markets remained closed during most part of the day. Water shortage and power outages only added to the woes of the residents. Rivers Ib and Bheden are drying up while small water-bodies, tube-wells and hand pumps have stopped oozing water. Official sources said two persons have died due to sunstroke so far.
The maximum temperature at Hirakud stood at 44.1 degrees while it was 41 in Sundargarh and Sonepur districts.
Even Kalahandi recorded 43.5 degrees and the intense heat condition made life miserable. Meanwhile, the forecast of thunder squall along with hailstorm and rain in some areas of Boudh, Bargarh, Sonepur, Nuapada and Balangir has raised hopes of some decline in temperature in the next few days.
Sources drying up in Barpali
JHARSUGUDA: It’s a daily struggle for a bucket of water for the villagers of Barpali in Chandinimal panchayat of Jharsuguda block. Despite being situated near river Vasundhara, the tiny village with a population of just about 1,100 has been facing acute potable water problem.
The villagers are dependent on only one tube-well whose water too is likely to dry up soon due to fall in groundwater level. Many villagers depend on a small well on Vasundhara river bank for their daily needs.
Chandimal Sarpanch Ritu Sah said the river was their lifeline, but digging of the river bed for sand has led to the decline in the flow of water.
That apart, industrialisation has added to the crisis. The water and sand needs of a power plant in Darlipali village of neighbouring Sundargarh district is met from river Vasundhara, villagers said.
Collector Bibhuti Bhusan Patnaik said action will be taken after getting an inquiry report from the BDO.