Sambalpur, March 6: The proposed 15 million litres per day (MLD) water treatment plant in the city remains a distant dream.

The public health and engineering department had sent the plant’s proposal to the government nearly one year ago. Besides the treatment plant, it was also proposed to develop swamps and overhead tanks at various places of the city to ensure proper water supply. But, no visible progress has been made so far in this regard.

The Sambalpur Municipality houses 29 wards, of which, some are yet to get the water connection. Several new residential areas have come up in the past few years. Those, too, are to be given drinking water. Many areas of the city face acute water shortage during the summer.

Official sources said: “The city does not have water scarcity. The problem lies in distribution of water. It requires 28 MLD water. And the capacity of the existing water treatment plant at Bareipali is 42 MLD. But as the city has expanded considerably, because of their locations, especially on the outskirts, many places experience water shortage mainly because of lack of pressure. Sufficient water does not reach them. The problem could be resolved after the proposed project gets materialised. Equal distribution of water to the entire city will be possible only with the implementation of the proposed project.”

“Several places, which are located at the periphery of the city, do not get adequate water during the summer. Some parts of Kulthkani, Bhatra, Sunapali, Sakhipara and Talbhatapara face severe water problem during summer. The concerned authority should take initiative to materialise the proposed project as soon as possible,” said local resident Parimal Panda.