Rourkela, Jan. 28: Rourkela Steel Plant authorities are preparing themselves to prevent a possible drinking water crisis in summer.

Last year, the city had experienced unprecedented drinking water crisis with the Koel river drying up.

The Rourkela Steel Plant is laying pipes from Brahmani Water Works at Sector-VIII to the main water works at Sector-2 hilltop to tide over any eventuality during the summer months.

Besides the laying of pipelines, a pump house is also being set up. The work is expected to be over by April or May. The pipeline is being laid now. "We hope that next summer things will not be as bad as last year since the Rourkela Steel Plant has started working on the new water project," said Sana Pradhan, who stays in sector-VII.

Once the Brahmani Water Works is made functional, the city will get regular water supply. From this year, water will be pumped from here. Once the pump station is set up, water will go to the water works main unit at sector-II and from there, it will be distributed everywhere in the township.

The Rourkela Steel Plant will keep the Koel river lifting point on standby for any emergency. Every year, a sand bag wall is erected before summer to store water in the river for supply.

Last year, the river had dried up leading to a sever water crisis for the residents of Koelnagar and Shaktinagar. But, the administration has not done anything to address the problem this time.

Anup Patel, the executive engineer of public health, said: "There has been no directive from the government but we are aware of the problem."

However, he assured that the government was aware of the seriousness of last year's water shortage problems and something concrete would come up.