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Tribal Women Trek 1km for Water Amid Mine Pollution
17 Apr
Summary
- Villagers trek over a kilometre daily to fetch stream water.
- Tube-wells were sealed due to toxic hexavalent chromium.
- Authorities claim water is used for irrigation, not drinking.
In Jajpur district's Sukinda block, women like Malati Marandi trek more than a kilometre daily to fetch water from a stream. This is due to an alleged shortage of safe drinking water in tribal villages surrounding chromite mines. The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) department has flagged stream water as unsafe due to contamination from mining activities.
Last year, authorities sealed two tube-wells in Balipada after villagers fell ill from contaminated water. Rajani Soren from Talangi village noted that authorities promised alternative water supplies which have not materialized. RWSS assistant executive engineer Dasarath Nayak confirmed that 11 bore tube-wells were sealed last year to prevent health issues like cancer and organ damage.
Nayak explained that hexavalent chromium, a toxic and carcinogenic chemical, pollutes water, soil, and air near the mines. He added that while water is supplied via pipelines, many villagers use it for irrigation, opting for stream water for drinking. Some residents boil stream water, but most consume it without treatment, highlighting a critical public health concern.
