Keonjhar: With temperatures in Keonjhar district showing no signs of receding, the scorching heatwave conditions continue to disrupt daily life of peoples since the past few months. To give some relief to the suffering mass, the administration had opened its coffers in providing drinking water by setting up a chain of water kiosks in Keonjhar town.
However, as these kiosks are running dry since the last 10 days owing to lack of water supply, these measures have failed to bring about any succor to the public.
Sources said that one such kiosk was set up at Keonjhar Daily Market where villagers and forest dwellers from hilly areas come to sell their products. They mostly depended on the water kiosk for quenching their thirst. Now with the kiosk running dry, their only source of drinking water has vanished. Same is the case with a series of such kiosks opened at places like the district Collector’s office premises, near courts, bus stops etc.
All these citizen’s facilitation water booths have become defunct due to lack of water supply. The residents of the city have demanded an investigation to find out why these kiosks, set up by spending lakhs of ruppes, went dry a time when the heat is at its peak. Sanjay Choudhury, a local businessman, said, “It is really sad to suddenly stop water supply in Keonjhar city though the government has directed the administration to remain vigilant to water supply issues to tackle heatwave conditions.”
Similarly, many water tanks are found lying unused on the premises of the district Collector’s office, even as several parts of the town are reeling under severe water scarcity. Sources said that due to lack of rain this year, drinking water supply to different wards has stopped. This has put people to untold misery.
“There has been no water at the drinking water service centre set up by the Keonjhargarh municipality near daily market. Common people and traders coming to the city for various jobs, and people coming from distant tribal villages to the market are facing drinking water problems. No one is paying attention to their plight,” said Anil Sonkar, a local fruit trader. Similarly, many expensive trees planted on the divider island of roads for beautification of the city are browning off, or died, due to lack of regular water supply for which environmentalists have raised concerns. Meanwhile, Executive Officer, Keonjhargarh municipality, Basant Kumar Sethi said, “Steps are being taken to restore water supply soon”.
PNN