Nabarangpur: The residents of Sanadaibhata village under Nandahandi block in this district Monday blocked the National Highway-26 at Sanadaibhata Chhak over the persisting drinking water scarcity in their village by placing water pots on the road.
Though the villagers had urged the rural water supply sanitation (RWSS) executive engineer and block development officer regarding supply of clean drinking water, repair of drains and other issues on several occasions, their requests fell on deaf ears, alleged the villagers.
There are only four tube wells in the village and they throw muddy water. Though drinking water is supplied to the villagers via pipeline using solar power, service gets disrupted during the rainy season.
The villagers had filed taken up the matter with the Collector September 17, but to no avail, they alleged.
Failing to get any response from the administration after repeated requests, the villagers launched a road blockade Sunday around 10.30am.
On being informed, Nabarangpur IIC Bhimasen Nayak, SI Dillip Pradhan reached the spot and held a discussion with the irate villagers, however, the villagers threatened to continue the road blockade until their demands are fulfilled.
Later, the executive engineer of RWSS, Maoranjan Mali, district panchayat officer Basant Kumar Patra and BJD leader Prahalad Tripathy reached the spot and discussed with the protesters. The road blockade was called off after the officials promised to install more tube wells and ensure supply of drinking water in tankers until the solar water powered systems are made functional.
Vehicular movement was irrupted on Jeypore-Nabarangpur NH-26 for at least three hours.
PNN