Telkoi: The shortage of drinking water has become acute in the Shibnarayanpurgoda panchayat of tribal Telkoi block in Keonjhar district.
The tribal people here have been facing problems in getting safe drinking water for four years. They threatened to agitate if immediate steps were not taken to solve the problem.
Taking note of the drinking water problem, the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation department had set up a drinking water project at a cost of Rs 50 lakh. But the project has been defunct for some years now.
“Of the four tube wells in the village, two have stopped working. Muddy water is coming out of the remaining two. The water is not drinkable,” said a resident.
Residents Sarat Pahi, Hrushikesh Mohant, Gobardhan Sahu and Hemant Mohant said they had raised the matter with the Collector, but nothing was done. The people have no other go but to use a stream water and Samakoi river.
Sarpanch Sirpani Pradhan said their complaints about the water problem have not been resolved.
BDO Dillip Kumar Bara said steps would be taken to solve the drinking water shortage in the panchayat.
PNN