Bhubaneswar, 03 October (H.S.): Law, Works and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Saturday reviewed the progress of piped drinking water supply projects in Khordha district and the Chilika Assembly constituency, directing officials to complete all projects within the stipulated timelines.

The review meeting, held at Lok Seva Bhawan, discussed the Chilika-Tangi-Banpur piped water supply project, the Ranipada cluster under Banpur block and projects under the Begunia-Bolagarh scheme. Piped water supply projects in Balianta, Balipatna and Bhubaneswar blocks were also reviewed.

Harichandan said expediting the projects was essential to ensure piped drinking water reaches every household. He directed officials to resolve issues related to land acquisition, forest land clearances and encroachment removal through the appropriate authorities.

He said major infrastructure projects should be planned with a 30- to 50-year perspective to avoid repeated road cutting and other disruptions in the future.

Expressing concern over delays by contractors, the Minister directed departmental officials, chief engineers and superintending engineers to closely monitor project execution. He said action should be taken against contractors for unjustified delays.

Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, Girish S.N.; Director, Drinking Water Supply, Vineet Bharadwaj; Khordha Collector Amrit Rituraj; Engineer-in-Chief, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, Ratnakar Sial; Khordha DFO Gajanan Lade; Chief Engineer, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, Manoranjan Jena; Chilika BDO Poonam Mahapatra; Chilika Block Chairperson Jyotsna Behera; Banpur Block Chairperson Amarendra Ranasingh; Superintending Engineer, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, Rashmita Das, along with other departmental officials and representatives of executing agencies, attended the meeting.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda