Rourkela, April 18: Political parties have resorted to blame game as residents still reel from water shortage in the city.

BJP state secretary Dhiren Senapaty said BJD leaders were trying to hoodwink the people by promising that the check dam on the Koel river, which was subsequently converted to a wire bridge, would definitely come up.

"The project now stands cancelled. Initially, the water resources department agreed to lay the foundation stone after Raghunathpalli MLA Subrat Tarai had assured them of Rs 10 lakh from his MLA LAD fund for survey and other works, which he never did," he said.

Senapaty also claimed that there was no budgetary allocation for the project despite chief minister Naveen Patnaik holding the department portfolio.

BJD local unit president Ananda Mohanty, however, said: "The project will definitely come up as the foundation stone was laid by the chief minister himself."

Reacting to the BJP's allegation, Mohanty said: "They are just spreading rumours."

Sundargarh collector B.S. Punia was also unable to give a detailed reply. "At this moment, I do not have any further information," he said.

Executive engineer of the water resources department Ajaya K. Biswal told The Telegraph: "So far, no final decision has been taken with regard to the project."