Rural pipewater supply project yet to be completed

Four years have passed since work on a rural pipe water supply project started at Hatigada village in Koraput district bordering Andhra Pradesh, but was yet to be completed.
According to the villagers, a borewell has been dug, a pump house constructed, transformer installed and 10 standposts erected in the village but the Rs 17 lakh project is stalled due to non-completion of the water tank.
"Villagers depend on a nearby stream for drinking water but it will also dry up in summer," said Sania Mandangi, a villager. "Often villagers fall sick as the stream water is contaminated," he added.

Hatigada, home to around 150 families, mostly tribals, is 100 km from here. Villagers alleged that they have urged the concerned officers several times to make the project operational but in vain.
Official sources said the project is yet to be completed becasue the borewell is not yielding any water and contractors are delaying the work fearing Maoists.
"Fresh tenders have been floated to dig a new borewell and we hope to make the project operational soon," said Dilip Kumar Kisan, junior engineer of rural water supply and sanitation posted at Bandhugaon.