To take a proper bath poor people have to travel a km or two to reach the houses of others.
This is the state of crisis faced by around 3,000 poor people not from any extreme rural pocket but from Harudakhandi Harijan Street and adjoining areas of ward number 1 of Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC), a major urban centre of Odisha.
Drinking water shortage continues to be a problem for them in this perennially water-scarce city. But drying up of Mandia Bandha, a large tank near their locality for the past one month for renovation, has added to their woes. Water from this large tank was being used for bathing, washing and other purposes by those living nearby. However, now due to this dried up source, bathing has become a major issue.
According to area corporator Rajeswar BeheraMandia Bandha tank water was drained out for renovation. But the work has not started yet by the contractor. Till monsoon, this tank would be of no use for the area residents. “For men, it is easy to travel on cycles or vehicles to go to other places, we women have to walk more than a km every morning for bath at house of some other family,” Mohini Nayak, an area resident, said . According to Surendra Nayak, their troubles get added as they are working and now they have to spend more time and effort for collection of drinking water as well.
Potable water pipelines had been laid down in the area around one-and-a-half years ago, but they are yet to get water. “Despite several complaints before the authorities, nothing has happened,” said the corporator. Two tubewells, that are not working properly due to depletion of ground water and technical snags, are the only source of water. So, bathing is almost a luxury.
Adding to their woes is the fact that despite being part of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation, none of the residents of this area have toilets at their homes.
