Odisha CM Dedicates 100 Drinking Water Projects

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday dedicated 100 urban drinking water supply projects in the state that would benefit a population of 27 lakh in 41 urban local bodies (ULBs).

The state government has spent Rs 63 crore for drinking water supply in 41 ULBs in the state.

“The state government is committed to providing equitable, affordable, sustainable and safe water supply to all urban population with a special focus on urban poor. Our Government is working towards providing 135 litres per person per day and to provide pipe water supply connection to all urban households including the slum areas,” said the chief minister.

“I am happy to announce that the State Government will provide free domestic water supply connections to all urban poor and economically weaker households in the state by waiving the upfront connection fee of Rs.500 per connection,” he added.

The chief minister said the Housing & Urban Development Department had identified 422 water scarce areas in 185 wards of 24 urban local bodies experiencing the shortage of water during summer.

Apart from proving water through tanks and tankers on a mission mode, which will be provided within a period of 2 years. Efforts should be taken to provide long-term solutions, said Patnaik.

At present about 65 lakhs people are residing in Urban areas of the state out of total population of about 420 lakhs. PHEO is supplying 939.10 MLD of drinking water per day to 110 ULBs & 2 census towns benefitting a population of around 60 lakhs.

AMRUT schemes is envisaged with an investment of Rs.325 crores, 63 nos projects have been approved for implementation in 9 ULBs having more than 1.00 lakhs population each covering 5 Municipal Corporations of  (Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela & Sambalpur) and four municipalities (Puri, Baripada, Balasore and Bhadrak).