Rayagada: As summer begins, a severe water crisis has emerged in Rayagada district. People in 11 blocks are struggling to access drinking water. The much-awaited Mega Water Project has failed to provide adequate water supply, leaving residents disappointed. In the hilly areas, where tube wells were once a reliable source, most have now stopped working. Major water sources in the district have dried up, and many tube wells are non-functional.
In about 90 villages, old tube wells drilled years ago have either dried up or become inoperable. Repairing these tube wells is proving difficult. According to government data, there are 1,36,609 tube wells in the district, and including wells, the total count reaches 1,49,000. However, in Kashipur block, out of 1,931 tube wells, the majority are out of service.
In 28 panchayats under Sadar sub-division, several tube wells have become non-functional. While official records show thousands of tube wells, many have either been buried or disappeared in reality.
Repairing vs. Drilling New Tube Wells
According to a senior official, the cost of repairing an old tube well is almost the same as drilling a new one. Previously, water could be accessed at 50-60 meters, but now, wells must be drilled to depths of 90-100 meters to find water.
In 2019, the groundwater level in Sadar sub-division was at 21.18 meters, but by 2021-22, it had dropped further to 22.23 meters. The groundwater level has not improved over the years. In 2014, cyclones Hudhud and Titli brought heavy rainfall, providing temporary relief, with 900 mm of recorded rainfall leading to a slight improvement in groundwater levels.
However, climate change and other environmental factors have led to a steady depletion of groundwater in the district. This has created severe water shortages in many villages. Officials from the Water Resources and Public Health Engineering Department acknowledge the issue and emphasize the need for urgent solutions.