JEYPORE: Since the last two weeks, the tribal district of Koraput has been facing a severe water crisis.

According to reports, the ground water level in many areas of Koraput, Jeypore, Kotpad, Semiliguda, Laxmipur, Kundura, Boipariguda and Sunabeda has come down to about 150 feet. Because of this, the borewells do not function. Most of the wells, ponds, nullas and chullas (streams) have also dried up.

The locals of the affected areas have to walk miles for water which they get by digging up river beds. The towns of Jeypore, Koraput, Sunabeda and Kotpad are facing the similar problem. Women wait for hours to get water from Public Health Department pipe lines.

Locals complained that although the district Rural Water Supply Department and Public Health Department have water supply tankers for curbing the crisis, these are yet to be put into service.

Contacted, officials of Rural Water Supply department informed that although they had surveyed and prepared a plan for digging bore wells in the villages under KBK development schemes this year, it has not yet materialised due to funds crunch.

However, the department would dig bore wells under the District Rural Development Agency funds in different villages, they added. Meanwhile, tribal heads of the affected villages have appealed the district administration to hold a meeting to chalk out details to tackle the water crisis.

Earlier, villagers had met State Minister for Consumer Welfare and Civil Supplies Rabi Narayan Nanda and urged him to curb the problem.