Jajpur villagers block road demanding drinking water

Kendrapada: The residents of several villages, including Bhimatangi and Rasola, under Sukinda block in Jajpur district blocked the Tamaka- Mangalpur road on Monday, demanding safe drinking water, which affected vehicular traffic for around three hours.The potable water crisis arose in these villages after officials sealed many polluted tube wells to check a diarrhoea outbreak, which had claimed 18 lives in June.On the day, the residents, mostly women, also took out a rally and shouted slogans demanding an alternative or regular supply of water in their villages.Police later rushed to the spot and pacified the agitators, said inspector-in-charge (IIC) of Kaliapani police station, Shiba Charana Behera.Rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) department executive engineer of Jajpur, Rashmi Ranjan Mirdha, said he directed the assistant engineer of Sukinda to submit a report in this regard. “After getting the report, we will take proper steps soon to provide drinking water to the villagers,” said Mirdha.He added the officials had to seal many tube wells as a public health measure in June when testing confirmed that the water source is contaminated with groundwater pollution, faecal bacteria or pathogens.

“We have already disinfected and repaired many tube wells. We will soon disinfect the other tube wells. Most villages in the block are getting drinking water through pipelines under a mega project,” said Mirdha.The agitators said mining activities around their village hampered the groundwater. “The officials had promised to disinfect all the sealed tube wells within a month. But the authorities failed to keep their promise, so we blocked the road by placing pots,” said Debaki Mohant (34) of Bhimatangi.Priyatama Mohant (43) of Rasola village said they would intensify the stir if the RWSS department failed to provide water everyday.Pravakar Mohant (45) of Bhimatangi village said due to excess drawing of groundwater by many industries, the level is depleted.