Jajpur: Nilapada village under Mahakalapada panchayat, one of the few water-rich areas in the district, is now facing an acute water crisis.

Around 1,800 residents of the village, home to 210 families, which are served by many water bodies, wells and ponds have been bearing the brunt of potable water scarcity.

With temperature soaring every day and the ground water table fast dropping, wells, water bodies and ponds are drying up.

Consequently, the parched villagers have no other option but to walk 1.5km to collect drinking water from the Birupa river, now the only source of drinking water for the villagers.

"Every family in our village normally rely on drinking water from wells. Since the wells are drying due to the advent of the summer, we are forced to walk for 1.5km to collect drinking water from the Birupa river," said Rashmiranjan Barik, a resident of Nilapada.

"Two of three tube wells in the village are lying defunct while the remaining one pumps out saline water. As a result, the villagers are not using it and have to depend on the Birupa river for drinking water," he said.

Since many incapacitated villagers are unable to walk the distance to bring water, he said, many are forced to drink water from the ponds, which often results in water-borne diseases.

"Besides drinking water, the village pond is used for washing clothes and cleaning utensils. People and cattle use the same water body to bathe," said Gyana Ranjan, another villager.

Though the district administration has started a drinking water project at the village two years ago, it is yet to be completed.

Bari block development officer Maheswar Sethy said the official concerned have been asked to repair the defunct tube wells. If necessary, the block administration would provide safe drinking water through water tankers in the village, he said.