June 27th 2024.
The city of Rourkela has been facing a severe water crisis due to the scarcity of water in the Ib river. In an effort to alleviate this problem, a pipeline was constructed to supply water from the river to different parts of the town. However, despite the completion of the pipeline, there is currently no water flowing through it. This has caused a lot of distress for the residents of Sundargarh, who require about eight lakh cusecs of water daily. Unfortunately, the WATCO (Water Corporation of Odisha) can only provide three lakh cusecs at the moment.
The urban body of Sundargarh previously consisted of eight wards, but now it has been increased to 19. With the increase in population, the demand for water has also significantly risen. In response to this, the BJD government had planned to include Sundargarh in their 24x7 water supply scheme. As a result, piped connections were provided to households, and overhead tanks were constructed in areas like Patrapada, Thanapada, Luhuradhipa, and Sankara. The total cost for these projects amounted to Rs 36 crore, which was funded by the government and DMF (District Mineral Foundation) when there was a shortage of funds.
However, despite the commendable efforts of the government, the lack of water has hindered the success of these projects. Locals have expressed their concerns, stating that without an adequate supply of water, these initiatives cannot be successful. Sudhir Das, a resident of Sundargarh town, blamed the construction of barrages on the upstream for the shortage of water in the Ib river. Officials from WATCO also expressed their helplessness, stating that they were able to manage the situation when there were only eight wards, but now with 19, it has become impossible to supply enough water.
A pump house was built in Ranibagicha a few years ago, which initially helped to alleviate the water crisis to some extent. However, with the increase in wards and the demand for water, WATCO's problems have only worsened. The previous BJD government, who had initiated the piped water scheme, had also laid the foundation stone for a barrage near Semina before the last elections. The tender process has been completed, and the residents are eagerly waiting for the construction to begin.
Many are hoping that the present government will understand their plight and take prompt action to ease the water crisis in Sundargarh. The residents are eagerly waiting for the barrage to be built, which they believe will significantly improve the situation. Let's hope that the government takes note of their struggles and works towards finding a solution to this pressing issue.
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