BALANGIR: It’s early summer but for Balangir, the heat cauldron of Odisha, the mercury refuses to plummet below 40 degree Celsius mark leading to fears of more hot and parched days for the denizens. The temperature in the town was recorded at 40 degree Celsius on Sunday while it was hovering around 43.8 degrees in the last three days. A brief spell of rain on Sunday in some pockets of the districts was of little help.
With the natural water sources drying up, struggle for every drop has increased and the villagers of Bartunda in Bangomunda block are already feeling the pangs of scarcity. The village with 400 households has only three tubewells in functional condition. The story is no different in other villages under the block __ Kapilabhata, Asurla, Mundpadar, Lukapara, Telipadar, Badagamada, Sanagamada and Manigoan.In Bhalumunda, ponds and other water sources have dried up. Nearly 600 families are dependent on lone tubewell in the village and fear this would not stand them for long Sources said water table in the villages as well as town areas is already depleting. Besides Bangomunda, in other areas like Lathore, Sindhekela, Saintala and Muribahal the water table was found to be low. Adding to their troubles is that rivers Lanth in Belpara, Arjuni in Bangomunda, Rahul in Gudvela, Suktel in many places of Patnagarh and Loisingha blocks are drying up in patches. Women and children walking long distances with water-filled pitchers is a common sight in villages across the district.
Durdakshya Hans of Bartunda village said there are only three tubewells while other water sources have already dried up. The situation is same in all the blocks, added Durdakshya. Executive Engineer, RWSS, S C Mahanta said the gram panchayats have been empowered to deal with water scarcity situation. The officials of blocks and district will provide technical support and monitor the situation. Repair of dysfunctional tubewells is being given top priority, added Mahanta.