The thirst of Jaladihi: A village’s fight for water
The village of Jaladihi in Odisha’s Keonjhar district, is nestled in the heart of a lush forest, its undulating topography a testament to nature’s artistry. For generations, the people of this remote hamlet lived in harmony with their surroundings, till modernisation shattered its idyllic existence.
Rain-fed agriculture and forest produce were the lifeblood of Jaladihi, sustaining its inhabitants through countless seasons. Crystal-clear streams meandered through the village, and wells provided ample groundwater for their needs. The elders often reminisced how blessed they were to have such abundance in their humble abode.
However, all this became a thing of the past when an iron plant set up operations nearby. The company, in its quest for resources, sank a massive borewell, plunging a thousand metres into the earth. The effects were swift and devastating. The streams that had flowed ceaselessly for centuries began to shrink, eventually drying up altogether. The groundwater level plummeted, leaving the village wells parched.
Panic gripped Jaladihi as the reality of their water crisis set in. The lush green fields that once yielded bountiful harvests now lay barren and cracked. The forest, too, seemed to wilt, its vibrant ecosystem struggling to cope with the sudden scarcity. The very foundation of the lives of Jaladihi’s inhabitants was crumbling beneath their feet.
Desperate, the villagers turned to their local panchayat for help. Numerous applications were filed, detailing their plight and pleading for intervention. But their cries fell on deaf ears. The panchayat, overwhelmed and underfunded, could offer little more than empty promises. Undeterred, the people of Jaladihi took their case to the block level, hoping that higher authorities would recognise the urgency of their situation. Yet, time and again, they were met with bureaucratic indifference and inaction.
As months turned into years, frustration and despair took root in Jaladihi. The once-vibrant community was withering away, much like their beloved forest. Families began to contemplate migration, abandoning ancestral lands in search of water and livelihood elsewhere. The village elders, however, were determined to find a solution. They knew that their collective voice had the power to bring change if only they could make it heard.