BALASORE: Despite the state government’s efforts to address water scarcity in rural areas through initiatives like the ‘Basudha’ project, residents of Jambani village in Balasore district continue to trek far to fetch water for daily consumption.
Even after the installation of pipelines connecting each house, the residents do not get water from the tube wells in the village.
The nearly 500-strong population of Jambani village, predominantly tribal communities, has been grappling with acute water shortage since mid-December. Though the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) department addressed the issue by providing two tubewells, both have proven ineffective due to falling water levels and mechanical issues.
Residents, particularly women and children, bear the brunt of this crisis, undertaking long treks to fetch water from the Ghaghara river and nearby pits. With no relief in sight from the local administration, they are forced to consume contaminated water from unreliable sources, posing serious health risks.
Sukhamani Singh, Baidhar Singh, Hruda Singh, residents of the village said, “We consume the water brought from pits and streams which are used by cattle and other animals too.”
Moreover, infrastructure neglect has escalated the situation, with basic amenities like motorable roads remaining elusive. The pump house established under the Basudha scheme, intended to alleviate water scarcity, lies abandoned and overgrown with wild vegetation, further compounding the villagers’ woes.
In response to mounting pressure, sarpanch Rabindra Singh admitted to the alarming scarcity of water in Jambani village. He assured to initiate a probe to find out the reasons behind the situation. “The RWSS officials have been asked to send the staff to repair the tube-well as early as possible,” he added.
Block development officer (BDO) Rahul Mandal said the residents of the village will get water soon and an inquiry will be carried out for the reason of poor water supply through the Basudha scheme.
