Patharabandha slum near Utkal University in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, March 23: Shortage of drinking water continues to haunt people living in three slums — Patharabandha, Biswanth and Tarini — in ward No. 14, near Utkal University. What’s even worse is the fact that the problem is likely to aggravate as the days begin to get hotter.

Most of these areas do not have supply of pipe water or tube wells. As a drainage channel passes through the area, most of the existing open wells and tube wells have been contaminated.

“Due to the drainage channel, the open wells are likely to get contaminated even more. Things have become really bad. The water from the open wells can be used only for bathing,” said Ganesh Nayak, councillor of ward No. 14.

Nayak said things would have been much better had the people of Patharabandha acquired houses under a rehabilitation scheme, which was planned in 1994. However, the scheme is yet to be implemented.

Bhagirathi Badajena, local MLA, had raised the issue in the Assembly last July. Badrinarayan Patra, housing and urban development minister, had said in his reply that the 7.57-acre meant for rehabilitation was not transferred to the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA).

“Several housing schemes for urban poor are available under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). But the inordinate delay by the state government in fulfilling the promises they had made in the past is surprising.

“Once the scheme is implemented, infrastructure development under JNNURM will take place. This will automatically include supply of pipe water and other sanitation facilities,” said Gaganbihari Paital, a social worker living in ward No. 14.

Another local resident and employee of a private company, Rabinarayan Bastia, said: “When the project was declared by the then chief minister, there were only 900 families. However, the number has doubled now. The state government should act quickly.”

Dillip Kumar Routrai, slum improvement officer of the BMC, said: “The state government general administration department had alienated 7.57 acre for Patharabandha slum in favour of housing and urban development for the rehabilitation programme and the BDA has been authorised to take physical possession of the said land.

“The BMC mayor has also written to the government for taking up the rehabilitation programme.”

Addressing the other issues in the ward, Nayak said: “The road and drain work has been taken up and more tube wells are being planned under the MLA local area development fund. But the cleaning of solid waste needs to be strengthened. At present, it is being done regularly at just a few locations.”

The cleaning of conservancy lanes inside Utkal University will be taken up soon as the area is lying neglected.

For better street lighting, the BMC has already taken up work on the Patharabandha Satsang Vihar stretch.