Nandapur: The Koraput district administration has noted Andhra Pradesh’s efforts to allegedly grab land by setting up drinking water facilities in some villages of Nandapur block in Koraput district. Officials said Tuesday that work for installing new tube wells in Raipahad village, which is facing water scarcity, will start Wednesday. The neighbouring state is allegedly trying to get closer to the locals and wean them away from Odisha on the pretext of supplying drinking water to villages where there is a shortage.
On being directed by Nandapur block development officer (BDO) Sujit Kumar Mishra, RWSS engineers Kanhu Charan Sethi and Rabindra Nath Marandi visited Raipahad village under the block and took stock of the situation. Preliminary inquiries indicated that the AP officials are drawing water from a stream that is approximately 250 metres from the Raipahad village and connecting it with a water tank constructed by them for supplying drinking water to the villagers. The team also met a contractor who has been engaged by the AP government for setting up pipelines to supply water to houses in Raipahad village. They warned the contractor to stop work or face legal action immediately.
Sources said that the Nandapur BDO will visit the Raipahad village Wednesday and take steps for the installation of tube wells. Tehsil officials, police personnel, and public representatives will accompany Mishra. They will first demolish the water tank installed by the Andhra Pradesh government and take up other development works in conformity with the district collector. The move by the district administration, although late, has drawn appreciation from observers and other residents in the block. They pointed out that the four other villages in the block are also facing water scarcity and efforts should be made to eradicate the problem as soon as possible.
However, it is not just the paucity of drinking water that is affecting the village. Senior lady, Jami Hantal alleged that she has been living in a pathetic condition as she has not been getting her pension for the last five months. This correspondent also found an information plaque where it was mentioned that the roads in the villages have been laid with paver blocks at an expenditure of Rs 3 lakh in FY 2021- 22. However, not a single paver block existed in the village. Similarly, members of 20 families in Raipahad village alleged that they have been deprived of getting houses under Awas Yojanas (centre or state).