Frustrated by a prolonged and deadly drinking water crisis, residents of multiple villages in Odisha's Jajpur district took to the streets in a dramatic protest on Monday. People from Bhimatangi, Rasola, and other villages under the Sukinda block blocked the crucial Tamaka-Mangalpur road, bringing vehicular traffic to a standstill for approximately three hours.
A Crisis Born from Tragedy
The current potable water emergency has its roots in a severe public health tragedy. In June, a diarrhoea outbreak claimed 18 lives in these villages. In response, officials from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) department were forced to seal numerous tube wells after testing confirmed the water was contaminated. The sources were found to be polluted with faecal bacteria, pathogens, and other groundwater contaminants, making the water unsafe for consumption.
The protest, led predominantly by women, involved a rally where slogans were shouted, demanding a regular and safe alternative water supply. The agitators placed pots on the road to physically block traffic, highlighting the very commodity they were being denied.
Official Response and Broken Promises
Police, led by Kaliapani police station's inspector-in-charge (IIC) Shiba Charana Behera, rushed to the spot to pacify the crowd. On the administrative front, Jajpur's RWSS executive engineer Rashmi Ranjan Mirdha stated he had directed the Sukinda assistant engineer to submit a report. "After getting the report, we will take proper steps soon to provide drinking water to the villagers," Mirdha assured.
He explained the sealing of the tube wells was a necessary public health measure. Mirdha added that many tube wells had already been disinfected and repaired, with work ongoing on the others. He also noted that most villages in the block are supposed to receive water via pipelines under a mega project.
However, these assurances offered little solace to the villagers, who cited broken promises. Debaki Mohant (34) of Bhimatangi village revealed, "The officials had promised to disinfect all the sealed tube wells within a month. But the authorities failed to keep their promise, so we blocked the road."
Underlying Causes and Threat of Escalation
The villagers point to industrial activity, particularly mining around their villages, as a primary cause for the groundwater depletion and pollution. Pravakar Mohant (45), also from Bhimatangi, blamed the excessive drawing of groundwater by industries for depleting the water table.
The protest may be just the beginning if their demands are not met swiftly. Priyatama Mohant (43) of Rasola village issued a stern warning: "We would intensify the stir if the RWSS department failed to provide water everyday." The three-hour road blockade serves as a clear signal of the community's desperation and their resolve to fight for a basic necessity—safe drinking water.
