Bhubaneswar: Acute shortage of drinking water at several places in the state has compelled people to take to the streets. On Saturday, Mahulpala villagers in Dhenkanal district staged road blockade protesting against alleged government apathy in providing them potable water.
People, mostly women, blocked the Kamakhyanagar-Dhenkanal road by putting their buckets and pots. The villagers alleged that they trek five km to fetch water.
A villager said they had faced drinking water problem last year also. "We have been complaining for last one month. "When the district administration didn't pay any heed to our demand, we staged the road blockade," he said.
Following the protest, local police and Kamakhyanagar BDO Pitambar Samal reached the spot and persuaded the agitators to withdraw the protest. After getting assurances, the villagers called off the protest.
Collector (Dhenkanal) Roopa Roshan Sahu said the groundwater level has gone down drastically in the area. "We will supply water to the village in tankers as a temporary arrangement," she added.
Similarly, people from Dadingi village in Kandhamal district blocked Phulbani-Bhubaneswar road demanding a water supply project near their village to solve their water woes. They lifted the road blockade after officials intervened.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.Hemanta Pradhan writes for the Times of India on education, hospi...
Read MoreHemanta Pradhan writes for the Times of India on education, hospital issues, transport, agriculture & tribal affairs. He has been working as a journalist since 2011. He has a PG degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from Berhampur University. He has won Laadli Media Awards for gender sensitivity.
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