Water crisis sparks protests in villages | Bhubaneswar News
Kendrapada: People from five villages in Kendrapada district’s Aul block staged protests on Monday at the block office and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) pump house, demanding immediate restoration of water supply that has been disrupted for the past 45 days.Villagers from Mendhapur, Kalapahad, Kajisahi, Talasahi, and Rasulpur first gathered at the Kalapahada pump house before staging a dharna at the block office. They staged the protest as a non-functional water pump has left thousands without regular water supply.“Despite significant investments in bore wells and motors, the pump house became defunct last month,” said Parwini Bibi of Kajisahi village. Residents are now forced to travel long distances carrying water containers in scorching heat.Sabyasachi Rout, a Mendhapur resident, highlighted that water scarcity has become a recurring summer crisis. “The department’s negligence has become routine, and no permanent solution has been implemented despite repeated complaints,” he added.The protesters have given officials a seven-day ultimatum to restore regular water supply. “If our demands are not met, we will launch a bigger protest,” warned Rijwan Bibi of Talasahi.Responding to the situation, RWSS executive engineer Basant Nayak cited depleted groundwater levels as the primary cause. “We are currently supplying water through tankers to affected areas,” he said. Nayak also mentioned that a mega piped water supply project under Basudha Yojana is underway and expected to be completed this year.The crisis has particularly affected women who are forced to walk long distances for water. “It’s extremely difficult to carry water containers on our heads and shoulders in this heat,” said Madhabi Jena from Rasulpur village. Local authorities have assured the villagers that remedial measures will be taken promptly to address the situation.
