Boudh, May 8: All-round development is the most overused buzzword by the 24-year-old Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government in Odisha when the general elections are round the corner. But the ground reality often belies it.

Residents of many villages located on the banks of the Mahanadi river in Odisha's Boudh district have been trapped in a relentless struggle for survival, deprived of the most fundamental human need- clean potable water.

Ironically, these villages, which are reeling under acute drinking water shortage, fall in the constituency of Panchayati Raj and Water Resources Minister Pradip Kumar Amat.

More than 200 families reside in Bendiripali and Sardhapur villages under Khuntbandh gram panchayat of Boudh block in the district. These two villages are located on the banks of the Mahanadi river, but the villagers are deprived of clean drinking water.

The most surprising thing is that a mega drinking water project has been built on the banks of the river, which is only 3 km away from these villages.

For decades, the villagers have been relying on contaminated water sources, braving the dangers of waterborne diseases and risking their lives daily.

The villagers staged protests, demanding safe drinking water, for several weeks but the BJD government didn't pay any heed to them.

While the State government is bragging about providing safe drinking water in rural areas through the 'Basudha' project, the villagers in the Water Resources Minister's own constituency are struggling to get clean potable water.

Recently, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan came down heavily on the BJD government for its failure to provide clean drinking water to the people even after being in power for 24 years.

"The Narendra Modi government has provided financial assistance of Rs 10,000 crore under Jal Jeevan Mission to Odisha, but thousands of villagers across the state are facing hardships as they do not have access to safe drinking water due to the 'inefficient and corrupt' BJD government," Pradhan said.

Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases, starting from Phase one on May 13, Phase two on May 20, Phase three on May 25 and the final Phase on June 1.

The results will be announced on June 4.

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