Odisha: Low voltage continues to shadow water project

BIRMAHARAJPUR (SONEPUR): THE problem of Sagjuri village in Durjantaila Gram Panchayat under the block reminds one of the plight of farmer Khainu Bagarti of Kendpali in Bargarh, who committed suicide on February 28 last year after he failed to irrigate his crop. Although he had a deep bore-well, he could not make use of it due to the problem of low voltage.

It has been about eight years since water supply project was commissioned in  Sagjuri but it is yet to be made functional due to low voltage. And while the  departments concerned have washed their hands of their responsibility when the region is reeling under acute water crisis after a spell of drought, it is the villagers who are struggling for every drop of drinking water.

The Drinking Water Project was started in 2010-11 at an estimated cost of `15 lakh   under Integrated Action Plan. The project was meant to supply water to about 2,000 residents spread over three Wards. Although there are six tube-wells, the water discharged is unfit for human consumption forcing the villagers to use water of Hariharjoar Medium Irrigation Project (MIP) and exposing them to a wide range of water-borne diseases.

The project is complete with construction of an overhead tank, pump house, laying of distribution pipe and stand post. But the RWSS authorities had then informed that the water level in the deep bore-well was not enough to draw water and pump it. Later, a fresh deep bore-well was dug close to Hariharjoar MIP and it provided  enough water.

Subsequently, the deep bore-well was connected with pipelines and when everything looked perfect, it was found that due to low voltage, the pump was not able to draw water. The electricity is presently being drawn from the village transformer and if electricity is provided from a transformer specifically installed for the deep bore-well, things might look up.

Villagers said they have brought the problem of low voltage to the notice of the officials concerned, but till date no action has been taken. They said it is not a solitary instance and there are many villages where drinking water projects are in limbo due to indifference of the officials.

RWSS Executive Engineer B B Mohanty admitted that there was water problem in the village and attributed the failure of the drinking water project to low voltage. He said he would take up the matter with WESCO and if required, alternative ways would be found out to resolve the matter.