Koksara: Crores of rupees are being spent to sort out drinking water problems in rural areas but many remote and tribal pockets under tribal-dominated Koksara block in Kalahandi district are reeling under a severe water crisis.
In some areas, local residents have no choice but to drink water from hill streams, creeks and pits over years.
Sargipani a hillock village of Amapani panchayat under Sahakhol Reserve Forest area is a case in point. The village paints a picture of neglect with people deprived of the most basic of facilities. Over hundreds of people reside in the village. The tribal residents depend on agriculture and minor forest produce like forest products, corn farming and shift cultivation.
Their foremost problem is non-availability of drinking water. The village lies on the borders of Koksara block. A stream flows near the village and plays the role of main source of water for 12 months in a year in the village.
Locals say there is no irrigation facility for their farmland. “The stream is the only source for both irrigation and drinking water. The village is beset with multiple problems,” they lamented.
The villagers say there is a tube-well, but it often remains out of order. Even after repairs, the tube-well pumps up muddy water, locals said.
Despite the state and Central governments pushing their own rural electrification drives, a steady supply of electricity has eluded the villagers. They also have no access to healthcare even as the area is identified as highly vulnerable to malaria.
Local residents like Birsa Munda, Sania Munda and Jiban Munda said they had drawn the attention of the administration several times in the past but in vain.
“As we have no safe source of drinking water, we are compelled to drink water from the stream,” rued some women of the village.
BDO Manisha Dash said that the village comes under the forest department for which the district administration couldn’t take any steps regarding the development of the village.
“But we will discuss with the district administration to provide proper drinking water provision in the village,” she added.
PNN