Bhubaneswar, 03 May (H.S.): The Government of Odisha has stepped up efforts to ensure universal 24x7 urban drinking water supply, following a comprehensive review of the Annual Action Plan of the Public Health Engineering Organisation for the period 2026–27 to 2028–29.

The review meeting, held at Kharabela Bhawan, was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee.

According to official projections, the population across 86 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) is expected to reach around 31.5 lakh by 2026. Currently, these areas receive a combined drinking water supply of approximately 452 MLD.

Reiterating its commitment to round-the-clock water supply, the state government is implementing a phased roadmap to extend 24x7 services across all ULBs. In 2025–26, nine ULBs have already been covered under the initiative. Building on this, 38 ULBs each are planned to be covered during 2026–27 and 2027–28, significantly expanding the programme’s reach.

Under the flagship SUJALA Programme, a total of 544 water supply projects have been sanctioned. Of these, 289 projects have been completed, while the remaining are at various stages of implementation. As part of the upcoming plan, 391 projects—including 102 new ones—will be undertaken in 2026–27 with an estimated investment of ₹1,500 crore. Additionally, 92 projects are scheduled for 2027–28 with a projected outlay of ₹978 crore.

These initiatives aim to strengthen infrastructure, improve distribution networks, and ensure uninterrupted water supply to urban households across the state.

Reviewing the progress, Usha Padhee directed officials to expedite project execution and ensure timely completion in line with the government’s vision of universal water access. She also emphasized the need for efficient fund utilisation and accelerated expenditure to maintain implementation momentum.

Highlighting sustainability concerns, she stressed the importance of identifying alternative water sources and discouraging the use of treated drinking water for non-essential purposes such as gardening, vehicle washing, and construction.

The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Additional Secretary Subhananda Mohapatra, FA-cum-Additional Secretary Sikha Biswal, and Engineer-in-Chief of PHEO, Bilas Behera, among others.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda