Neglected Infrastructure and Poor-Quality Work Blamed for Sudden Collapse

Jharsuguda : In a serious lapse of infrastructure maintenance, the Purnabasti Pond one of the oldest water bodies in Jharsuguda city collapsed under the pressure of incessant rainfall at around 2:45 PM on Sunday, sending torrents of water surging through nearby areas like a waterfall and sparking panic among local residents.

The breach has triggered alarm among residents of Wards 15, 16, and 17, many of whom depend on the pond for daily water needs. They now fear that the complete drainage of the pond will severely affect their water security.

According to sources, the Minor Irrigation Department had undertaken repair and reinforcement work on the pond over the past two years. However, locals allege that the construction quality was substandard and inadequate to withstand the kind of water pressure brought on by recent heavy rains.

The work done was shoddy and temporary in nature. This was a disaster waiting to happen, said a concerned resident of Ward 16.

Despite repeated inspections by the district administration in recent months, reconstruction work on the vulnerable pond embankment was never initiated. Sunday’s breach has now laid bare the consequences of administrative inaction and engineering negligence.

With water still gushing out, there is a growing concern of flooding in adjoining localities, and urgent intervention is being demanded by affected households. Residents are calling for immediate structural repairs and long-term restoration of the pond to prevent future crises.

The district administration is yet to release an official statement regarding the incident or outline any relief measures for the impacted wards.

As rainfall continues to batter the district, the Old Settlement Pond incident has become symbolic of the wider issue of neglected civic infrastructure, underscoring the urgent need for proactive governance and quality control in public works.