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Time of India
19-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Water crisis sparks protests in villages
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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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.
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Road blockade over safe drinking water demand in Odisha's Marsaghai
KENDRAPARA: Residents of several villages in Marsaghai blocked the Haladiagada-Patkura road at Sasinipada here demanding safe drinking water on Tuesday. The agitators, mostly women, blocked the movement of vehicles including buses on the road for around four hours alleging irregular supply of drinking water and delay in repair of defunct tube-wells in Talasanga, Sasinipada, Garajanga, Kharadasahi, Kurapala, Berua and other villages under Marsaghai block. The villagers also took out a rally demanding regular supply of water. Smitarani Jena (29) of Sasinipada village claimed, 'We have been facing erratic water supply since long. Despite taking up the issue with the officials concerned several times in the past, no steps have been taken to resolve the water crisis.' The protest would be intensified if the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) department fails to provide water to the villages through tankers everyday, she warned. Sources said a Rs 241 crore mega drinking water supply project, the foundation stone of which was laid in 2018, is yet to be completed. The ambitious project aims to provide water to 148 villages under 26 gram panchayats in Mahakalapada block and 52 villages of 16 gram panchayats in Marsaghai.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Women-led stir over water woes in Kendrapada district
Kendrapda: Led predominantly by women, hundreds of residents from six villages in Marsaghai block of Kendrapada district staged a four-hour road blockade on Tuesday, protesting against erratic drinking water supply and defunct tube-wells. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The agitation disrupted vehicular movement on the Haladiagada–Patkura road near also held a rally, warning that protests would intensify if the rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) department fails to ensure regular water tanker services. The agitating villagers are from Talasanga, Sasinipada, Garajanga, Kharadasahi, Kurapala, and Berua. "We have been facing irregular water supply for a long time. Despite multiple complaints to officials, no action has been taken," said Smitarani Jena, a resident of executive engineer Basant Nayak attributed the water crisis to falling groundwater levels due to scant rainfall. "We are supplying tankers to the affected villages. Around 80% of the project work is complete and should be finished this year," said region has been battling salinity issues for the past two decades. "Many villages once had sweet water, but salinity has risen over the years, affecting both drinking water and agriculture," said Niranjan Behera a resident of Berua protest follows a similar agitation on April 22, when women in Badakula gram panchayat blocked roads with empty pots, demanding potable water. A Rs 241-crore mega drinking water project, announced in 2018 to serve 200 villages across 42 gram panchayats, remains incomplete.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
NH widening work stalls Rs 178cr water supply project in Kendrapada
1 2 3 Kendrapada : A mega drinking water supply project worth Rs 178 crore in Jajpur district 's Dasarathpur block is yet to be completed, leaving around 2 lakh villagers across 35 gram panchayats without proper water in 2019, the project was scheduled for completion by Dec 2022. However, the project has made little headway. The delay is attributed to the ongoing widening of NH-20 and alleged administrative no piped water, villagers continue to depend on a limited number of tube wells. "Water scarcity is worsening every day. We've pleaded with officials, but no action has been taken yet," said Pramod Mohanty, a Dasarathpur resident. Locals also alleged that the company responsible for the work has deployed a minimal workforce, slowing the project further. "We want the project completed soon," said another resident, Paramanda Mallick. Assistant engineer of rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS), Dasarathpur block, Manoj Kumar Behera, said, "Pipeline installation has been completed in 25 gram panchayats. Road widening has delayed further work due to infrastructure challenges. The project will resume after the road work ends." Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Consumer court orders post office to pay Rs 10k for deficient service
Rourkela: A consumer court in Jharsuguda has directed the postmaster of a sub-post office to pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 to Sundargarh man for service deficiency that resulted in denial of information under RTI Act . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Paul Meher from Bhasma in Sundargarh district had filed an RTI application with the assistant engineer, RWSS division, Jharsuguda, on July 28, 2023. After being asked to pay a processing fee of Rs 52, Meher sent the amount through electronic money order (EMO) on Aug 24. However, due to delays at the OMP Line sub-post office, the payment reached the RWSS division only on Sept 4, beyond the stipulated 15-day period. This led to the assistant engineer's office refusing to accept the payment and subsequently denying the RTI information. The post office held onto the returned amount for 45 days before refunding it to Meher on Oct 20. During the hearing, the post master failed to appear before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Jharsuguda, while the assistant engineer's office maintained they were correct in refusing the delayed payment as per RTI guidelines. The commission found the post office guilty of service deficiency, noting that they failed to promptly communicate the payment's refusal to the complainant. The order, issued on April 23 this year, requires the post master to pay the compensation within one month, failing which the amount will attract 12% annual interest until realisation. The commission absolved the assistant engineer's office of any wrongdoing, stating they were not liable for the post office's negligence.
