Panchayats in Kotpad block facing acute water shortage

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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2010/06/17/stories/2010061759180300.htm)
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Panchayats in Kotpad block facing acute water shortage


Ch. Santakar



Villagers in the region seek some measures to tide over the crisis


KORAPUT: Ghasiram Jani of Sahanimunda village in Murtahandi panchayat of Kotpad block in Koraput district had to sell a pair of buffalos and purchase a pair of bullocks as the former was required to be cleaned regularly and thus more water was needed. Water is available in little quantity and the cattle had to be taken to Makagaon, by covering at least five km of distance, for their bath with the water of the Janra river. Ghasiram takes them once in a month to the river.
However, according to Katulu Durua of Malchamal village in the same panchayat, cattle is more often left to themselves even for more than three months at a stretch due to acute shortage of water in the region. Of the two tubewells in Malchamal, one is in working condition. But the amount of water that comes out of it is so little that families have to wait night long to fill their pots for storing drinking water.
Ghasiram owns 17 acres of land. But, for the lack of water he could cultivate paddy only during rainy season. He manages the family with the total output of the land from a single crop. But, the marginal farmers living in the forest area often depend upon the minor forest products. They even migrate to work in the green chilli farms on the other side of the river in the neighbouring State of Chhattisgarh.
Affected by drought
Chatarla, Murtahandi and Chandli panchayats in Kotpad block have been affected by draught last year. Compensation was paid to the farmers. But, the situation could not be changed for anything better even this year for the lack of proper initiatives. These villages are now surrounded by a number of ponds. But none of them has water for use in time of need. While waiting for regeneration of groundwater through these ponds, some of the funds could have been spent on digging a canal to bring water to these panchayats from the Janra river. This might have brought some solution to the water crisis of the region, says Ghasiram.






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