The coal-rich Belpahar town is facing acute water shortage. A few deep bore wells and tubewells provided by the Belpahar Municipality earlier have been the only means of drinking water for the water stressed public. The locals also get water supplied in tankers by the MCL and municipal authorities, but that is not sufficient. The PHED has not been able to provide the required water. Against the actual daily requirement of 6.47 MLD water, the department is able to supply only 0.65 MLD which is too meager. The PHED sources said that in 2014, the town population was 49, 247. Out of the existing 19 wards in the town, the PHED is able to supply water through pipeline to only seven wards and the rest 12 wards are not getting the supply water. The water scarcity problem in the locality has not been solved even after the declaration of mega water project in Ib river for Jharsuguda, Belpahar and Brajrajnagar towns. When contacted Jharsuguda PHED Asst Engineer Ganeshwar Behera said that the water supply project at river Ib is in the pipeline. After commencement of the project, the water demand in Belpahar Township can be fulfilled, he told.