The overhead tank is under repair at Rourkela.Telegraph picture

Rourkela, Nov. 10: Water supply to Koelnagar and its nearby areas will be affected due to maintenance work that is undertaken by the public health department. Already water supply to the area has been erratic.

“We are undertaking maintenance work on the overhead water tank, and it will start from November 11 and will continue for nearly 10 to 12 days,” said assistant engineer of the department Sridhar Pattnaik.

“We have undertaken the maintenance of the main supply line. Now, we are working on the overhead tank that caters to such a large population,” he said.

The tank was set up for Koelnagar residents by the Rourkela Steel Plant and later handed over to the department, when the residential area came up in early 80s. Later, Shaktinagar residents were also registered as recipients of the water supply from the overhead water tank.

Koelnagar is home to over 4,500 households, and another 500 families from Shaktinagar depend on it.

The overhead tank is more than 30 years old and needs immediate repair.

“Leakages have developed in the tank. Besides, the base of the tank also needs some repairing,” said Pattnaik.

Pattnaik, however, asked the residents not to panic, as the water would be directly pumped to the houses from the filtration plant. “We will be directly supplying the water to the residents from the filtration tank, and there will be no fall in the quality,” he said.

Around 200 households of Block-C at Koelnagar will get the water from an underground sump. The rest of the houses will face the problem.

The residents are worried about the water supply during the maintenance period.

“I am not sure what will happen during the days when they go through the maintenance,” said Bani Das, who is a Block C resident and depends on this overhead tank for water.

Pintu, a resident of Block B, is planning to shift his family to his in-law’s house. “I believe in what the department says. However, I cannot take chances with two small kids at my house along with my ageing parents.”