If the rising temperature and frequent power cuts were not enough, water crisis has compounded the woes of people of Jharsuguda, Brajrajnagar and Belpahar municipalities.

Jharsuguda Municipality has a population of 1,02,875 living in 24 wards. But water is supplied to just five wards. As against the total requirement of 13.88 MLD (million litres per day), the supply is limited to 4.94 MLD.

In Brajrajnagar Municipality having 23 wards with a population of 86,400, the water requirement is 11.66 MLD. However, just 3.11 MLD is supplied.

Similarly, in Belpahar Municipality having a population of 47,983, water is supplied to seven wards. The requirement is 6.47 MLD, but only 0.65 MLD is met from open wells.

According to PHED sources, water requirement of three municipalities totals 32.01 MLD, but only 8.70 MLD is supplied at present. To meet the shortfall of 23.31 MLD, the local administration has been supplying water through 14 tankers in areas under Jharsuguda, Brajrajnagar and Belpahar municipalities.

Jharsuguda MLA Naba Kishore Das said Rs 32 crore was sanctioned for a water project from Urban Infrastructure Development Fund for Jharsuguda town and the project is expected to be completed in 2014. “Once the project is commissioned, people in all 24 wards will get water through pipe connections,” he said.