Piped water projects come a cropper

BIRMAHARAJPUR (Sonepur): The dry beds of Hariharjoar and Surubalijoar water bodies speak volumes about the water-stressed condition of the Birmaharajpur sub-division. Summer is a nightmare for the 1.5 lakh-odd population of the sub-division. Most of the residents of the sub-division depend on the rivers besides tube-wells and pipe water supply. In Birmaharajpur block, there are 934 tube-wells of which, about 150 are lying defunct, while in Ulunda block, out of the 1,095 tube-wells, about 200 do not ooze out water. With the river beds drying up, groundwater level has also depleted and one has to pump for long hours for a bucket of water. In some parts, people are forced to prod long distance to fetch water for domestic purposes. Although there are numerous piped water schemes in place, only a few provide water while others are non-functional.In Birmaharajpur block, piped water supply schemes have come a cropper in Mursundi, Hilung, Pitamahul, Kanpur, Manikpur, Mendamal, Goppali and Gutiapali villages. Similarly in Ulunda block, piped water scheme has been a misnomer in villages of Kotsamlei, Khyamaloi, Kalapathar, Hingma, Keuntipali and Lastala. Villagers said while in many places substandard quality of work is the reason behind defunct tube-wells and pipe water connections, at other places it is either low voltage or absence of electrification to the pump house which has failed the water projects. Although the situation in villages located along the banks of the Mahanadi is better, it will soon worsen as the river starts drying up. It is learnt that in villages of Mohada, Jaloi, Kalapathar and Kotsamalei which avail of irrigation facility from Hariharjoar Irrigation Project, the water scene is better till May. The villagers start feeling the pangs once canal water stops by May-end. RWSS Executive Engineer Bipin Bihari Das said plans had been made for new tube-wells in places where the structures have gone dry while work is on to repair defunct tube-wells.