Jajpur/Kalinganagar: Even though Rs 150 crore was sanctioned from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund for the execution of a mega drinking water project in Danagadi in Jajpur district, the public is sceptic about it due to the excessive extraction of groundwater by industrial units in Kalinganagar, a report said.
The matter came out after the Engineer-in-Chief of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department (RWSS) wrote a letter (8093, dated- September 24, 2018) to the Collector about the development.
A sum of Rs 150 crore was sanctioned from DMF fund and the project is expected to get completed in two to three years, the letter had stated.
The doubts of the residents about the project’s success stem from the fact that the industrial units of Kalinganagar have been mindlessly extracting groundwater, after being permitted by the Irrigation Department.
The wanton use of groundwater has led to depletion of the water table in the area. As a result water has stopped flowing from taps and tube wells in urban and rural areas.
The situation becomes acute when wells, ponds and tube wells dry up in summer. However, no one has cared to fix the problem and the residents continue to suffer drinking water shortage. RWSS officials have also admitted to the problem.
According to a department report, the Danagadi block adjoining the Kalinganagar Industrial Complex receives less rainfall due to the rise in atmospheric temperature in the area after industrialisation.
The industrial units have drilled deep bore wells on their premises and have installed high power motors to draw water for industrial use. Apart from this, the firms are also drawing water from the Brahmani and Kharasrota rivers.
The mindless use of water has lowered ground water levels and this is reflected in summer in Danagadi, Telibahali, Solei, Singadia, Managobindpur, Dhuligad, Kantipur, Balungabandi and Jakhpura areas.
The situation has arisen as the firms do not go by the norms of the Irrigation Department to install flow meters on their premises to find out the amount of groundwater they use. As a result, the two rivers often dry up in summer.
Executive engineer Amiya Parija of RWSS expressed the hope that the mega project will save people from water shortages.
PNN