 "Temprature above 40 degree, irregular water supply plague Odisha's Berhampur")
Residents in this silk city in south Odisha are bearing the sweltering heat with mercury hovering around 40 degree Celsius and irregular water supply.
People in areas like Goshaninuagon, Ankuli and Lanjipalli say they are getting water on alternate days for the past one week. With this has begun the blame game between public health engineering organization (PHEO) and Southco, the power distribution company.
"We have complained about the water crisis to PHEO officials, but in vain," said Deepak Nayak of Ankuli.
Residents of Goshaninuagon and Lanjipalli had recently staged a demonstration in front of PHEO executive engineer's office over the issue.
PHEO engineers attributed the problem to disruption in power supply to Rushikulya System at Badamadhapur near Chhatrapur. Around 16 million litre water is being supplied to the town and its adjoining areas from this source.
Executive engineer (PHEO), Berhampur, Sitaram Panda said power outage has affected water supply. "It takes four to five hours to pump water. If power goes off even for an hour, in such a situation, we have no option but to supply water on alternate days," he said.
There has been no disruption in power supply to Dakhinapur reservoir, which supplies around 20 mld water to the town, he added.
General manager (Southco) P K Choudhury said they are yet to resort to power cuts. "Rushikulya system gets power from two dedicated grids at Chhatrapur and Tara Tarini. The PHEO has the liberty to change the grid, if one among them fails," he said.
Choudhary said salt-water deposits on cables at Chhatrapur due to severe heatwave conditions and humidity might have disrupted the power supply.
"Fire tenders have been pressed into service to wash the cables at Chhatrapur. The grid at Tara Tarini is in good condition," he added.
People in areas like Goshaninuagon, Ankuli and Lanjipalli say they are getting water on alternate days for the past one week. With this has begun the blame game between public health engineering organization (PHEO) and Southco, the power distribution company.
Read more from our special coverage on "HEAT WAVE"
"We have complained about the water crisis to PHEO officials, but in vain," said Deepak Nayak of Ankuli.
Residents of Goshaninuagon and Lanjipalli had recently staged a demonstration in front of PHEO executive engineer's office over the issue.
PHEO engineers attributed the problem to disruption in power supply to Rushikulya System at Badamadhapur near Chhatrapur. Around 16 million litre water is being supplied to the town and its adjoining areas from this source.
Executive engineer (PHEO), Berhampur, Sitaram Panda said power outage has affected water supply. "It takes four to five hours to pump water. If power goes off even for an hour, in such a situation, we have no option but to supply water on alternate days," he said.
There has been no disruption in power supply to Dakhinapur reservoir, which supplies around 20 mld water to the town, he added.
General manager (Southco) P K Choudhury said they are yet to resort to power cuts. "Rushikulya system gets power from two dedicated grids at Chhatrapur and Tara Tarini. The PHEO has the liberty to change the grid, if one among them fails," he said.
Choudhary said salt-water deposits on cables at Chhatrapur due to severe heatwave conditions and humidity might have disrupted the power supply.
"Fire tenders have been pressed into service to wash the cables at Chhatrapur. The grid at Tara Tarini is in good condition," he added.