Bhubaneswar, 25 July (H.S.): Access to clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental necessity, and the Odisha government is fully committed to ensuring this for all residents of the state, said Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water, and Rural Development Minister Shri Ravinarayan Naik while addressing the media on Thursday.

Currently, 18 out of 207 mega drinking water projects underway in the state have been completed. The remaining projects are being expedited and are under close and continuous monitoring. The Minister warned that agencies failing to complete their assigned projects within the stipulated timeframe will face penalties. Furthermore, concerned officials and employees will also be held accountable for any delays or irregularities.

Highlighting a significant achievement, the Minister informed that all villages in Nuapada district have been covered under the ‘Har Ghar Jal Yojana’, marking a historic step towards improving rural water access.

In a bid to further accelerate implementation, the state has set clear targets: 21 projects are to be completed by August, 11 more by the end of September, and an additional 22 by December 2025.

To streamline water resource management, the Odisha government is also considering the establishment of a dedicated Water Corporation.

To ensure the availability of safe drinking water across the state, the regular cleaning and disinfection of 5,27,570 hand pumps, 21,401 production wells, and 15,155 overhead tanks is being carried out. Of the 29,512 hand pumps approved in previous years, approximately 20,891 have been completed so far.

The government is placing a strong emphasis on accountability, ensuring that all infrastructure development is completed on time and meets the required quality standards.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda