Telkoi: Swajaldhara Yojana is aimed at providing safe drinking water to rural areas, but tribal people in many villages under Telkoi block of mineral-rich Keonjhar district still depend on pits and hilly streams to meet their potable water needs.
Take, for example, Namkani village in Bimala panchayat where 300 people live. It is alleged that three tube wells set up in the village have gone defunct. Though locals have taken up the issue with the RWSS, no step has been taken to repair them.
However, RWSS authorities have passed the buck, saying water supply has been handed over to the Pani panchayat.
“As tube wells are not working, villagers have to drink contaminated water from a pit,” lamented ward member Asadhu Dehuri.
Summer is coming and the water problem will worsen if the tube wells are not set right in time, said villagers. However, sarpanch Rinki Mohant said that they will be set right to ensure water to the villagers.
PNN