Boinda: The government has commissioned several drinking water projects but many are defunct due to various reasons including the lack of proper maintenance and non-payment of outstanding electricity bill.
A drinking water project at Solanda village of Boinda panchayat in Angul district is a case in point.
The outstanding electricity bill amount for the project stands at 1.62 lakh. The project has stopped functioning since the last four days after ‘NZen’ snapped the connection.
“In these searing hot days, we are having a tough time getting a pitcher full of water. The failure of the water project has compounded our problems,” alleged some villagers who met the Collector to discuss the issue Friday.
With a view to provide drinking water to 160 families of eight hamlets at Solanda village, the drinking water project was started March 31, 2017.
Even after two years, the Water Supply Department has not transferred the responsibility of the project to the panchayat department. The electricity bill also has not been paid for the last two years.
“For the past four days, we are facing acute drinking water problem. There are four tube wells in our village but none are working. Women members of our families are being forced to walk more than a kilometre to bring a pitcher full of water,” complained some villagers.
Former sarpanch Pramod Kumar Sahu and some other villagers including Dilip Kumar Pradhan, Anjan Kumar Pradhan, Kishore Chandra Sahu have demanded the immediate restoration of power supply.
When contacted, Boinda sarpanch Manas Ranjan Sahu said, “The project is yet to be transferred to the panchayat. This is the main reason why the outstanding amount for power supply went on increasing.”
Junior engineer at Kishorenagar Water Supply Department Manoranjan Pradhan said, “The responsibility of the project will soon be transferred to the panchayat department. Besides, both departments will find out a solution for the payment of the outstanding electricity bill.”
Meanwhile some villagers said: “Government departments commit mistakes and we are the sufferers.”
PNN