Chief minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurates the underground water reservoir at Kapila Prasad on Saturday. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 15: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated two underground water reservoirs for the residents of Bhimtangi, Sundarpada and Kapila Prasad. While the reservoir at Bhimtangi has a capacity of five lakh litres, the other one can hold 10 lakh litres of water.

The reservoir at Bhimtangi will benefit around 25,000 residents living in the nearby areas and the one for Sundarpada and Kapila Prasad will benefit 25,000 more people.

A pipeline of over 650 metres has begun functioning in Bhimatangi. Another 2,600-metre pipeline is catering to the needs of the residents of Sundarapada and Kapila Prasad.

Earlier, some areas of Bhimatangi used to get water supply from the reservoir at Mula Padia. But the residents were facing problems because the water pressure was low. There were no water supply lines for the residents of Kapila Prasad and Sundarpada.

“We have been demanding a reservoir in our area for a long time. We are happy to get one now and hopefully, we will not face problems next summer,” said Aditya Parida, a resident of Kapila Prasad.

Mayor Anant Narayan Jena said the BJD had been trying its best to provide drinking water facilities to everyone living in the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation area.

“Earlier, we had set up similar reservoirs for residents of Jadupur and Dumduma. We will also come up with such projects in other areas where residents are still deprived of water supply,” said Jena.

Congress supporters alleged that such projects were being inaugurated keeping an eye on the upcoming general elections.

“Water scarcity has been a long-standing problem for the residents of Kapila Prasad and Sundarpada. But the BJD, which formed the previous council of the corporation, did not act then. Today’s inauguration was a publicity stunt by the ruling party,” said Bharat Barik, a Congress supporter.