Sambalpur: Residents of Gaisilet block protested with pots and vessels at the block office to demonstrate acute shortage of water. The crisis intensified after authorities banned the use of borewells due to rising kidney diseases in the region.
“The govt promised water tanker services from March for villages facing scarcity. However, our village has received no support,” said Jahya Pradhan of Buromunda village. He warned of intensified protests, including locking down administrative offices, if the situation remains unaddressed.
Villagers said existing tubewells are insufficient and inconveniently located. “The nearest tubewell is 1.5 km from our homes. We earlier relied on a borewell, but its use was prohibited due to kidney diseases,” said Leela Bariha from Kansdol village.
Block development officer Laxman Majhi defended the administration’s response, stating that the block has 1,158 tubewells and 115 jala chatras. “We’re currently providing water tankers to five water-scarce villages. However, villages with functional tubewells cannot be given tanker services,” he said. Majhi said the administration takes immediate action on water-related complaints.