Kandhamal to ensure water supply near residential schools

BERHAMPUR: To ensure proper water supply, the administration in Kandhamal district has decided to construct check dams over springs and nullahs near residential schools functioning under the ST and SC welfare department.

"We have asked different departments and agencies such as Integrated Tribal Development Projects (ITDP), rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) and minor irrigation for construction of the check dams," Kandhamal district Collector N Thirumala Naik said.

Engineers of the minor irrigation department will identify the springs suitable for construction of the check dams, while engineers of RWSS will identify the residential schools for supply the water.

Conservation of water is necessary as wells and tubewells do not yield water due to depletion of groundwater level and rocky ground, the collector said.

There are 277 residential schools in the district and 25,000 students are housed in the hostels. "Most are hit by water shortage, particularly during summer," district welfare officer (DWO) Paramananda Prusty said.

The district administration supplies water to a residential school at Kurtumagada through tanker. The DWO said in some cases the hostel inmates go outside for daily ablutions and it can be risky.

"If we store water during winter by construction check dams and supply it during summer, then the problem will be solved to a great extent," said an engineer of the minor irrigation. Feasibility study for the check dams is yet to be completed, he added.