Bhubaneswar, March 29: The State government today said Odisha faces a drinking water crisis this summer even as Opposition Congress demanded an apology from it for “failing to provide safe drinking water”.
“We do not deny drinking water scarcity in the state. It may create grave situation in coming days due to the deficit rainfall and drought situation this fiscal,” Rural Development minister Badrinarayan Patra said while replying to an adjournment motion debate in the House.
Patra said the government had been trying its best to resolve the crisis and sought cooperation from MLAs and officials engaged in water management.
He called upon the officials engaged in repair of defunct tube wells, to rise to the occasion and solve the problem as the people are facing drinking water problem.
The State government has ordered for making provisions of water tanker in all the blocks experiencing water crisis, he said.
The minister said the energy department has been told not to disconnect power supply to pump houses even though they have not paid the electricity bills.
He said provision is being made to supply at least 40 litres of water to every person in rural areas.
Asking the State government to tender apology for not being able to provide drinking water even as BJD remained in power for above 16 years, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said, “This government has lost moral right to rule the State.”
The Congress leader alleged people are being harassed across the state when they approach the officials for repair of defunct tubewells.
“The officials at the ground level also did not respond to my request. They repaired a tubewell after I drew the attention of chief engineer. Can a man in village approach the chief engineer?” Mishra asked.
He said the women have to walk miles to fetch water for drinking even though the State has a huge water potential.
