Bhubaneswar, 01 August (H.S.) : In view of the ongoing flood situation in Odisha, the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department has intensified efforts to ensure the supply of safe drinking water in affected rural areas. The department is undertaking large-scale purification of contaminated water sources, restoration of piped water supply systems, and arranging alternative drinking water facilities wherever regular supply has been disrupted.
According to official data available till July 31, 2026, out of a total of 13,662 tube wells in the affected districts, 6,491 have been impacted by floods. Of these, purification work has been completed for 2,710 tube wells. Similarly, out of 642 piped water supply (PWS) schemes, 357 have been affected, with restoration or purification completed in 101 cases so far.
The districts of Bhadrak, Balasore, and Jajpur have witnessed significant damage to rural drinking water infrastructure, prompting focused intervention. In Bhadrak, 3,411 tube wells were affected, of which 1,311 have already been purified. In Balasore, 2,191 tube wells were impacted, with 545 restored, along with the repair of 75 affected PWS schemes. In Jajpur, 511 tube wells were affected, and 122 have undergone purification.
As floodwaters begin to recede, access to submerged sources is improving, enabling field teams to accelerate purification and restoration work across affected regions.
To ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply during the restoration phase, the department has deployed 47 DG sets, 10 Mobile Water Treatment Units (MTUs), 37 water tankers, and 35 additional vehicles and tractors. So far, 1,92,235 drinking water bottles and pouches have been distributed, while an additional stock of 4,65,000 bottles has been kept ready. Moreover, 4,420 bags of bleaching powder have been made available for disinfection purposes.
For monitoring and grievance redressal, a 24×7 control room is operational at the office of the Engineer-in-Chief, RWSS, in Bhubaneswar. Complaints received at the state level are being promptly forwarded to the concerned field units for immediate action. The state control room can be reached at 0674-2391203. Similar control rooms are also active across all districts to ensure swift coordination and response.
The department has mandated that all flood-affected water sources must be thoroughly disinfected before being brought back into use. In areas where immediate restoration is not feasible, alternative arrangements such as water tankers, synthetic storage tanks, mobile treatment units, and packaged drinking water are being deployed to prevent dependence on contaminated sources.
Simultaneously, assessment and restoration of damaged drinking water infrastructure and other assets are underway. As per the directions of the Special Relief Commissioner, necessary repair works are being initiated without waiting for financial assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
The department reiterated that ensuring access to safe drinking water during and after floods remains its highest priority, with continuous monitoring and coordination being maintained from the state level down to the grassroots.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
