Baripada: Overexploitation of groundwater has resulted in its gradual depletion in most parts of Mayurbhanj district. To keep the groundwater recharged, the state government is already executing scores of rainwater harvesting projects by spending crores of rupees in Baripada town. Over 400 rainwater harvesting projects are already being executed.
The state government has planned to execute 400 more such projects in fiscal 2022-23.
Reports said, groundwater level is gradually plummeting every year. In summer, people have to suffer acute water crisis in most parts of the district. It is said that low-lying areas are being filled up to lay roads and houses due to which rainwater fails to permeate into the ground.
Budhabalanga river that flows on the outskirts of Baripada town and several ponds in the town dry up in summer every year, leading to severe water woes.
Keeping this in view, the civic body authorities have emphasized on rainwater harvesting projects in 28 wards of the town for the last two years.
“Committees have been formed in every ward to identify spots to set up rainwater harvesting projects,” said Krushnananda Mohanty, chairperson of the civic body.
Cost of each project has been estimated at Rs 30,000. The project entails construction of water outlet and soak pit.
Besides, Rs 38,000 will be allocated for rainwater harvesting systems on the government buildings so as to facilitate rainwater recharge.
Meanwhile, some self-help groups (SHGs) have been entrusted with watershed construction.
However, locals have alleged that works of most of the rainwater harvesting projects have been compromised with quality to mint money. Their durability is in question as officials looking after the project execution are not monitoring the construction work.
“In a year or two, many projects fall in bad shape or become defunct. About 280 rainwater projects set up in 2020-22 have been in bad shape,” locals lamented.
Contacted, Sachidananda Satpathy, the executive engineer of Baripada municipality said that project work is being monitored, but some projects have been vandalised by people.