Jajpur: Four drinking water treatment plants and eight water ATMs, built at a cost of Rs 2 crore, were installed in four tribal-dominated gram panchayats of Sukinda block in Jajpur district on Sunday.Funded by the District Mineral Foundation (DMF), Jajpur, the initiative seeks to provide purified drinking water to residents of mining-affected areas. The facilities were established in Rasol, Kaliapani, Tamaka and Chandia.The treatment plants use multi-stage filtration systems, including reverse osmosis (RO), ultraviolet (UV) treatment and ultrafiltration (UF), to remove impurities, heavy metals and bacteria from water. “Clean drinking water is a basic necessity in mining-affected areas. Water ATMs will help bridge the gap between demand and availability by providing purified drinking water,” said Satya Surup Panda, team leader, DMF, Jajpur.Panda said water ATM cards had been distributed to around 3,000 local residents, allowing them to collect purified water free of cost. Each plant can produce 30,000-35,000 litres of potable water a day and is expected to benefit around 1,500 households in each gram panchayat. RFID-enabled smart cards would allow beneficiary households to access treated water, ensuring transparent and equitable distribution.The project is expected to reduce exposure to contaminated groundwater and water-borne diseases. Solar energy and electric mobility have been incorporated to lower operational costs. Regular water-quality testing, maintenance, local capacity building and performance monitoring will support long-term sustainability. The initiative assumes significance amid concerns over groundwater contamination in villages surrounding mining areas. The presence of iron, fluoride, nitrate, lead, manganese and chromium in groundwater has been linked to chronic kidney disease.DMF, Jajpur, has also developed a five-bedded dialysis centre at the community health centre, Danagadi, at a cost of Rs 40 lakh. The facility would provide dialysis services closer to patients suffering from CKD and end-stage renal disease in Danagadi and adjoining mining-affected areas. Sukinda Valley, which has extensive chromite deposits, has witnessed concerns over mining’s health impact on local communities. “We hope the supply of drinking water through water ATMs will help locals to live in good health,” said trade union leader, Jagajiban Das.
