PARADIP: Jagatsinghpur district has been witnessing a steep decline in groundwater level. The quality of water also deteriorated. Sources said groundwater level in the district has gone down to a great extent following unrestricted drawing of water by industries in the area.In the last few years hundreds of industries - big and small - have mushroomed in this coastal district. As there is no restriction, industries have been exploiting the situation to the hilt, resulting in the depletion of water table. As a result, water scarcity in the district has become acute.Villagers in Ersama and Balikuda blocks are resorting to digging of ‘chua’ to collect water. Sources said the water table has gone down by two to three metres within a fortnight.Situation in the Port Town isn’t any better as the pipe water supply scheme is in a limbo.Sources said precious drops of water are going down the drains at Paradip even as the growing industrial hub reels from one of the worst drinking water problems in recent memory.The pipelines have developed cracks at strategic places and a huge volume of water is gushing out of them. As the sheer wastage of water continues unabated, domestic water tapes are going dry. The ruptured pipelines have led to the formation of artificial streams that otherwise would have reached the doorsteps in water-scarce areas in the port town. The supply is erratic and falls short of the requirement of residents here. Whatever is being supplied is muddy and unfit for drinking.Locals said supply of water through tankers by PHD and RWSS departments is also irregular. There has been a drastic fall in the water level both at the Taladanda canal and the three water-carrying reservoirs in the port town. Against the daily requirement of 3 million gallons, hardly 1 million gallons are being generated. “The drinking water supply to Paradip town is not satisfactory. Wastage of water from the cracked pipes in such a crisis situation is unwarranted. The PHED should ensure that such things do not recur,” said Jagannath Samantray, a local.Another resident Sukanti Mandal said: “We hardly get water for an hour in the morning. Taps remain dry for the rest of the day.”Admitting to the crisis in rural and urban areas, Paradip ADM Surjeet Das said around 20 to 25 villages are the worst affected areas in Ersama and Balikuda.“We have directed the RWSS Department to supply water by tankers across the district,” said Das.
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