THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
CHHENDIPADA (ANGUL), AUGUST 22, 2026
In a significant step towards strengthening rural
infrastructure and improving public health, Gujarat Mineral Development
Corporation (GMDC) has commissioned a solar-powered community drinking water
project at PanaSahi village under Chhendipada Gram Panchayat, providing a
sustainable solution to the hamlet's long-standing water woes and bringing
relief to more than 300 villagers.
The project, inaugurated on Saturday, has been taken up by
GMDC under its Baitarani West Coal Project, Chhendipada, in partnership with
Gramya Vikas Trust (GVT) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
initiative.
The drinking water facility addresses a persistent shortage
that had severely affected residents of PanaSahi, particularly during the harsh
summer months when access to adequate potable water became a major challenge
for the community.
The newly commissioned system comprises an 8-inch borewell
equipped with a 1.5 HP solar-powered submersible pump. The water is drawn and
stored in a 5,000-litre overhead tank before being supplied through a piped
distribution network to four strategically located community tap points across
the hamlet.
The facility is expected to directly benefit around 80
households, providing more than 300 villagers with access to clean and potable
drinking water while reducing their dependence on distant and uncertain water
sources.
Addressing the gathering, Nagendra Mupkalwar, Head of GMDC
Baitarani West Coal Project, Chhendipada, said true development lies in growing
hand-in-hand with local communities. He said the project was taken up promptly
after GMDC listened to and understood the genuine water-related concerns raised
by villagers.
Mupkalwar also reiterated GMDC's commitment to the overall
development and welfare of the Chhendipada region, emphasising the importance
of active community participation in driving sustainable and inclusive
development.
The use of solar power is expected to make the water supply system more sustainable while reducing dependence on conventional electricity, adding an environmentally responsible dimension to the CSR initiative.
Local residents expressed their gratitude to GMDC and GVT for addressing their long-standing drinking water problem and bringing a dependable source of potable water closer to their homes.
