Rourkela: The water crisis in Sundargarh town could have been avoided with proper thinking. It is nothing but a man-made problem, alleged many residents. The river Ib, the lifeline of Sundargarh and its adjoining areas, has gone totally dry now. Investigations have revealed that officials instead of solving the water scarcity are busy blaming one another.
In fact June 4, the entire town went dry as the PHD stopped the water supply. It said that the water table at the main intake well at Ranibagicha had become ‘alarmingly low’. Assistant engineer Nikunja Bilasini Kalo then said, “We are trying to get water from ‘Saitana Darah’. The situation is under control and normalcy will return June 5.” However, the situation still remains grim and water scarcity is acute in many places. “We are not getting water for more than 15 minutes. The situation could have been avoided had the sandbag embankment has been in place on river Ib, but no one did anything,” alleged Sachin Biswakrma, convenor of Sundargarh Swabhiman Manch. Another person alleged, “Just because the MP, MLA, and chairman all belong to BJP, the district administration did nothing though it was aware of the looming crisis.” It should be stated that Sundargarh MLA Kusum Tete earlier had informed that despite attracting the attention of the Collector on the water crisis issue, nothing was done.
Earlier the Sundargarh Sadar block authorities were erecting sandbag embankments. However, this time they declined to do so. The block officials pointed out that it was useless to spend money for the municipality when there was no benefit from it. Chairman of Sundargarh Municipality, Tanya Mishra said despite all her efforts, officials of the Sadar block had refused to set up the embankment. “I knocked on all doors. I spoke to the Collector, the Irrigation department as the PHD said it is not their duty to create an embankment. Even I tried to speak to block officials, but no one listened,” Mishra said. “It is not the duty of the municipality to look into the water supply, but even then as the chairman, I pleaded with everyone, but no one paid heed,” she added. Two and a half years back the foundation stones of two barrages at Kopasingha and Kudabaga were laid by CM Naveen Patnaik. Of the two, the Kopasinga barrage would have solved the water problems faced by residents of this town. However, nothing much has happened since then on the projects