Ashis Parida May 18, 2019
The intensive cyclonic storm FANI that swept across Odisha has desolated homes, evacuated power poles and trees, and harmed everything that came in its way. Though the state’s preparedness and timely precautions had saved many lives, still many people in the twister hit state are currently reeling under darkness, lack of drinking water, rising costs of essential goods and a serious money issue because of many dysfunctional ATMs.
As the state government is struggling to re-establish the basic necessities like power and water supply, they have now decided to install solar-powered motor pumps in piped drinking water to at least tackle the drinking water issue amidst natural calamities like flood and cyclonic storm.
These solar powered motor pumps will be installed in 4,315 projects in coastal districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Ganjam, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda and Puri districts with World Bank help of Rs. 345.20 Crore. According to reports, Rs 8 Lakh will be spent on each project.
The solar pumps will be installed replacing electric pumps as power supply completely gets disrupted during natural calamity. Apart from this 25 KVA to 50KVA DG sets will be kept ready in these drinking water projects.
The matter came to the fore after the engineer-in-chief (EIC) of rural water and sanitation department (RWSS) submitted a proposal (letter no-4538/15.05.2019) to the principal secretary, state panchayat raj department, in this regard.
In his letter, the EIC said as the power administration gets completely shut down in the flood and cyclone hit districts, people are put to untold sufferings due to non-availability of drinking water. He said by installing solar motor pumps drinking water supply would proceed with no disturbances. Thus, individuals will be profited and this could at least give them a source of relief during such a hard time.
Amiya Kumar Parija, executive engineer of RWSS said he is yet to receive any official communication in this regard. But if installed, this will go a long way in solving the drinking water problems of the residents during the calamity, he added.
