Kendrapara chases a 'pipe' dream

The coastal district was the only one selected from state in the Jal Shakti Abhiyan in 2019 to boost groundwater recharge

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The Central government has identified Kendrapara district as the state's only water stressed district and included it in the Jal Shakti Abhiyan for groundwater recharge initiatives.

However, locals allege that they have seen little improvement as the government's mission to ensure piped water supply to every household by 2024 has fallen flat in this coastal district. With mercury soaring, an exacerbating drinking water crisis gives burning evidence of the mission's failure.

Moreover, seven rivers under the Mahanadi, Brahmani and Baitarani systems have dried up, leaving the district's residents without access to potable water. To top it all off, over 10,000 tube wells are throwing saline water. The above factors are indicative of the severity of the drinking water crisis plaguing the residents of this coastal district.

Complaints of water shortage are rising during public grievance camps with people often resorting to agitations in various areas due to lack of piped water supply.