Bhubaneswar Water Security Plan Reviewed; WATCO Asked to Fast-Track Projects to Meet Future Demand

Bhubaneswar: The Water Security Plan for Bhubaneswar city and its adjoining areas, prepared by the Odisha Water Corporation Limited (WATCO), was reviewed by Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, with a strong emphasis on timely completion of water supply projects to meet the city’s growing needs.

The review meeting was held at Kharabela Bhawan on Tuesday and was attended by Additional Secretary Subhananda Mohapatra, Managing Director WATCO Debabrata Mohanty, and other senior officials.

During the review, the Principal Secretary directed WATCO to prioritise all ongoing and proposed water supply projects and ensure their completion within stipulated timelines, keeping in view the rapid population growth of Bhubaneswar and future urban expansion.

Making a detailed presentation, WATCO MD Debabrata Mohanty outlined the current water supply scenario, the existing demand–supply gap, and the planned infrastructure augmentation in line with the vision of Viksit Odisha @2036 and Viksit Bharat @2047. He also flagged certain operational and administrative challenges being faced during project implementation. It was decided that such issues would be escalated to the appropriate authorities for early resolution to avoid delays.

Focus on Water Stress in Urban Local Bodies

Recognising increasing water stress caused by rapid urbanisation, climate variability and seasonal shortages, Padhee directed WATCO to conduct a comprehensive survey of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across Odisha, especially those facing acute drinking water problems during summer.

The survey will assess source sustainability, treatment and storage capacity, distribution efficiency, and peak seasonal demand, enabling the State Government to prioritise interventions, strengthen emergency preparedness and plan targeted investments.

Bhubaneswar’s Water Supply Status

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) area has witnessed sharp population growth from 8.40 lakh in 2011 to an estimated 13.03 lakh in 2025. Currently, the city’s water demand stands at 304 MLD, while the existing supply capacity is 238.50 MLD, leaving a gap of 65.50 MLD, which is being managed through groundwater sources.

Water supply in the city is currently catered through six Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) located at Mundali, Palasuni, Chandrasekharpur, Naharkanta, Bhuasuni, and High-Level Tank systems, drawing raw water from the Mahanadi, Kuakhai and Daya rivers.

Future Augmentation Plan

To bridge the existing gap and meet long-term requirements, WATCO has outlined an ambitious augmentation roadmap. A 130 MLD Water Treatment Plant at Mundali is expected to be commissioned within the next six months, while a 20 MLD WTP at Naharkanta is planned to be operational by 2028.

In addition, a proposal will be submitted to the Water Resources Department for lifting 1,000 MLD of raw water from the Mahanadi River at Mundali, aimed at meeting Bhubaneswar’s water demand for the next 50 years through a two-phase development plan. For achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, an additional 400 MLD WTP has also been proposed.

Officials said that upon commissioning of the upcoming 130 MLD Mundali WTP, WATCO will be able to ensure water supply to all apartments and institutional establishments in Bhubaneswar, significantly improving service coverage and reliability.