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New Indian Express
30-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Central team inspects water supply projects in Odisha's Deogarh
DEOGARH: A Central team visited Deogarh district to inspect the ongoing mega rural piped water supply (RPWS) projects on Saturday. The team was led by central nodal officer from the Ministry of Jal Shakti Ganesh Nagarajan. The visit focused on water supply projects covering 19 gram panchayats each in Barkote and Reamal blocks. Accompanied by technical officer Nirmal Chittora, Nagarajan assessed the implementation status of the projects which aim to provide safe drinking water to rural households under the Jal Jeevan Mission. The officials visited the intake wells and water treatment plants of both the Barkote and Reamal projects. The team also conducted a field visit to Gopapur where they interacted with villagers and verified the functional status of household tap connections. On the day, a review meeting was convened under the chairmanship of Nagarajan. Senior officials of the district including superintending engineer of RWSS, assistant engineers, junior engineers, technical project agency inspectors and the water testing lab manager attended the meet. Nagarajan emphasised the importance of maintaining water quality and timely completion of the projects.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
8 more samples test positive for cholera in Jajpur; total cases 16
Kendrapada: Eight more samples tested positive for cholera in Jajpur district on Wednesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 16. "Of the 37 samples tested so far, 16 have returned positive for cholera," Dr Bijay Kumar Mishra, chief district medical and public health officer of Jajpur, said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He added that contaminated food and water are the primary causes of the outbreak, following the detection of E. coli bacteria in several water samples. In response to the crisis, authorities have implemented several preventive measures. While roadside eateries and street food stalls have been closed, the rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) department has begun disinfecting tube wells and overhead water tanks. Food safety officer Rakesh Kumar Sahoo has advised residents to consume traditional food like flattened rice with banana and chatua and drink only boiled water. RWSS executive engineer Rashmi Ranjan Mardha reported that approximately 400 tube wells and various drinking water sources have been disinfected over the past four days. A special team has also been formed to repair damaged pipelines. Officials have recommended disinfecting overhead water tanks every six months to prevent future outbreaks.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Central team to visit Jajpur to take stock of cholera situation
1 2 3 Bhubaneswar/Kendrapada: As the health department works on a war footing to control the cholera situation in Jajpur district and some places in Bhadrak, Keonjhar and Cuttack districts, a 14-member health team from the Centre will visit Jajpur on Sunday to take stock of the situation. Dr Nilakantha Mishra, director of public health, Odisha, said, "The team will go to the cholera-affected sites, study the problems, and help us in tackling the situation." He said under the direction of director general of health services (DGHS), a seven-member health team and a three-member food safety team will visit the affected areas. A four-member independent food quality team has been sent by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India too, he added. "These teams will visit the affected areas, assess the public health situation, and provide necessary recommendations to field-level officers, state, and central govts regarding the causes and solutions," said Mishra. The death toll reached 11 unofficially in the district with the death of an affected man, Ghanashyam Prusti, 72, of Tarailo village under Danagadi block in Jajpur district. He died on Friday night at the community health centre (CHC), Anandapur, in neighbouring Keonjhar district. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Shiloh Jolie debuts new name in unexpected powerful appearance BigGlobalTravel Undo Misra said 1,306 out of total 1,516 people suffering from diarrhoea have recovered. Doctors are hopeful that the remaining 200 people will recover soon, he added. Panic gripped many affected villages on Saturday after the health department found cholera bacteria in stool samples of affected persons. The district administration on Saturday advised the people not to organise any community feast in the district during the three-day Raja festival from Saturday to Monday to check spread of cholera and diarrhoea. "We have directed officials of the rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) wing to replace damaged pipelines to supply drinking water and repair and disinfect all tubewells and wells," said collector (Jajpur) P Anvesha Reddy. She also advised people to drink only boiled water and not to consume unhygienic food. She emphasised the importance of providing fresh water through tankers in affected areas and instructed officials to ensure adequate supply of intravenous fluids and ORS packets for patients. The authorities on Saturday sealed a water bottling plant in Vyasanagar locality as it was running illegally without govt permission. "We collected water samples from the plant and sent the samples to our laboratory in Bhubaneswar for testing. After getting the report, we will take proper action against the plant," said RWSS executive engineer, Rashmi Ranjan Mardha. He said they are disinfecting ponds, tube wells, wells, and other water sources in the district. "We are also providing drinking water through tankers in many affected villages," he added. Dr Bijay Kumar Mishra, chief district medical and public health officer, Jajpur, said the outbreak started on June 9 evening. "Around 2,500 people consumed food in a community feast at a place in Jajpur district. That might have contributed something to the outbreak. Other reasons might be there. If we analyse the hospital admission statistics on Saturday, we can say the situation is coming under control," he added. He said food and water samples have been sent for testing too, apart from rectal swabs. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
19-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Water crisis sparks protests in villages
Kendrapada: People from five villages in Kendrapada district's Aul block staged protests on Monday at the block office and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) pump house, demanding immediate restoration of water supply that has been disrupted for the past 45 days. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Villagers from Mendhapur, Kalapahad, Kajisahi, Talasahi, and Rasulpur first gathered at the Kalapahada pump house before staging a dharna at the block office. They staged the protest as a non-functional water pump has left thousands without regular water supply. "Despite significant investments in bore wells and motors, the pump house became defunct last month," said Parwini Bibi of Kajisahi village. Residents are now forced to travel long distances carrying water containers in scorching heat. Sabyasachi Rout, a Mendhapur resident, highlighted that water scarcity has become a recurring summer crisis. "The department's negligence has become routine, and no permanent solution has been implemented despite repeated complaints," he added. The protesters have given officials a seven-day ultimatum to restore regular water supply. "If our demands are not met, we will launch a bigger protest," warned Rijwan Bibi of Talasahi. Responding to the situation, RWSS executive engineer Basant Nayak cited depleted groundwater levels as the primary cause. "We are currently supplying water through tankers to affected areas," he said. Nayak also mentioned that a mega piped water supply project under Basudha Yojana is underway and expected to be completed this year. The crisis has particularly affected women who are forced to walk long distances for water. "It's extremely difficult to carry water containers on our heads and shoulders in this heat," said Madhabi Jena from Rasulpur village. Local authorities have assured the villagers that remedial measures will be taken promptly to address the situation.
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Road blockade over safe drinking water demand in Odisha's Marsaghai
KENDRAPARA: Residents of several villages in Marsaghai blocked the Haladiagada-Patkura road at Sasinipada here demanding safe drinking water on Tuesday. The agitators, mostly women, blocked the movement of vehicles including buses on the road for around four hours alleging irregular supply of drinking water and delay in repair of defunct tube-wells in Talasanga, Sasinipada, Garajanga, Kharadasahi, Kurapala, Berua and other villages under Marsaghai block. The villagers also took out a rally demanding regular supply of water. Smitarani Jena (29) of Sasinipada village claimed, 'We have been facing erratic water supply since long. Despite taking up the issue with the officials concerned several times in the past, no steps have been taken to resolve the water crisis.' The protest would be intensified if the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) department fails to provide water to the villages through tankers everyday, she warned. Sources said a Rs 241 crore mega drinking water supply project, the foundation stone of which was laid in 2018, is yet to be completed. The ambitious project aims to provide water to 148 villages under 26 gram panchayats in Mahakalapada block and 52 villages of 16 gram panchayats in Marsaghai.
