Water bodies drying up in Balangir

BALANGIR: Infamous for starvation deaths, migration and poverty, Bangomunda block in Balangir district is reeling under water crisis. The scorching heat and drying water bodies are not only taking a toll on the humans, but have impacted the animals as well.The Undeer, Arjuni and Bhuasenjoar Nullah hardly have water and the groundwater has depleted substantially leaving the tubewells defunct.Insufficient rain during the monsoon last year is showing its impact on the water-stress levels this early. With two more gruelling months to go, one can only apprehend the extent of trouble the locals would have to pass through.While the peasants who had cultivated cucumber and watermelon are finding it hard to irrigate their fields, the women folk have to trek long distances to fetch water for domestic purposes.To sustain themselves the villagers of Chandotara have dug up holes, locally called ‘Chahala’ to collect water. The Sarpanch of Kapilabhata panchayat, Chandrabati Hans, said she had already started working out measures to arrange water for the villagers.Bangomunda BDO Tapiram Bhoi said four teams had been deployed to repair and maintain the defunct tubewells.Admitting that insufficient rainfall during the monsoon had deepened the water crisis, he said all efforts would be made to combat the situation.