Koderma, May 10: Electricity problems and lack of initiatives by the Jhumri Tilaiya-based drinking water and sanitation department (DWSD) to revive the projects have made four rural water supply projects in the district to lie useless.

The four projects, commissioned in the late Seventies and early Eighties, are situated at Markachcho, Domchanch, Satgawan and Barkatha.

The Satgawan project was designed to provide drinking water to the villages of Basodih Bazar, Shivpur and Nasarganj. But the project has not been of any use as the water tank and the iron pipes have become defunct.

Intermittent electricity problems and lack of remedial measures meant that the project ceased to be of any use after a short period of six months. DWSD executive engineer Yamuna Ram said there were no fresh proposals to revive the project.

Electricity problems have rendered the Markachcho project useless as well. Though the DWSP had sent a proposal to its Ranchi headquarters in 2002, nothing had been done.

The Domchanch project, designed to cater to the needs of residents of 10 villages — including Domchanch, Shivsagar, Masmohna and Masnodih — became useless as the pipes were not laid properly. However, Ram said steps were afoot to set things right.

Work on the Barkatha project was scheduled to be completed by early 2003. But the Golden Quadrilateral project forced the pipe-laying work to stop midway.

“The alignment has not been decided yet. We are holding talks with the NHAI (National Highway Authority of India) project manager in this regard. The Rs 63 lakh project will be completed soon after we get the NHAI’s clearance,” said Ram.