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Water problem in Berhampur to end?

BERHAMPUR: Some respite from the perennial drinking water crisis in the city seems to be in sight as the Centre sanctioned 25 crores for drinking water projects in four urban areas of Orissa including Berhampur.

Drinking water projects would be taken up with the funds provided by the Central Urban Development Ministry under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) meant for infrastructure development for small and medium towns. The urban centres that would be benefited are Berhampur, Koraput, Parlakhemundi and Angul, said Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Chandrasekhar Sahu.

Mr Sahu said the Centre had released 10 crores this week as first instalment of the sanctioned amount for the four townships.

Thrust was on alleviating drinking water crisis in Berhampur. Out of the released amount Rs. 5.6 crores was meant for establishment of a second drinking water treatment plant near Dakhinpur reservoir on the outskirts of Berhampur. Mr Sahu said Rs. 2.2 crores had been sent to the State Government to start work on the treatment plant immediately. This new water treatment plant was expected to provide 15 Million Litres per Day (MLD) of extra water to the city after its completion.

At present Berhampur needs around 46 million litres of water per day but it gets a supply of only 33 million litres. This supply falls in summer due to drying of the Rushikulya river.

The two drinking water projects for the city -- the Dakhinapur reservoir and Rushikulya joint water supply scheme -- supply 15 million litersand 12 million litres of water respectively. Every summer drinking water has to be supplied to scarcity areas of the city by tankers. A few years ago drinking water had to be transported to the city by railway tankers.

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