Orissa MLAs blast govt for drinking water crisis

Orissa MLAs blast govt for drinking water crisis
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 26: Members in the Orissa Assembly expressed concern today over the acute drinking water crisis in many areas of the state and criticised the government for failing to tackle the situation.

Water sources have dried up and the groundwater level is depleting fast, the MLAs said, demanding that government immediately ensure drinking water supply to the people.

The issue cropped up during discussion on the admissibility of an adjournment motion. As many as 29 members participated in the discussion that stretched over two hours.

Responding to the allegations Minister of State for Rural Development Prashant Nanda said that water scarcity was more widespread in the western Orissa districts of Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Bolangir and Nuapada.

These are dry areas and the poor rainfall has added to the acute scarcity. When tanks, wells and ponds started to dry in January, the state launched Operation Trishna on January 19 to tackle the situation in these districts, Nanda said.

The minister said that till the onset of monsoon, the state would see to it that not one person goes without safe drinking water. Water scarcity has not been noticed in any other districts, Nanda claimed.

Of the 114,099 habitations in the state, 113,447 -- more than 90 per cent -- are fully covered. There are 178 not covered (NC) and 474 partially covered (PC) habitations. Of the approximately 200,000 tubewells in the state, about 7,653 are defunct.

Nanda said the state had already sanctioned 2,395 tubewells for 20 districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Dhenkanal, Puri and Khurda. All tubewells will be installed by April 30, he said, and 2,000 more will be alloted to those districts suffering water shortage.

Instructions too have been given to complete all ongoing piped-water supply schemes. Till now, 441 such schemes have been kicked off. Nanda said 87 more would be completed by May 15.

The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has alloted 300 large deep tubewells to the state. The site selection for the wells has now started. Nanda said in Agalpur block of Bolangir, the groundwater level plunged by 9.25 metres by March 15.

Congress' Umesh Swain, Santosh Singh Saluja, Suresh Kumar Routray and Anup Sai, however, alleged the state is yet to rise to the occasion. Saluja warned that people would die in Bolangir from water shortage if immediate steps are not taken. Sai said Operation Trishna is yet to take off.

Ruling BJD's Prafulla Chandra Ghadei too criticised the state for inaction.