Khordha Drinking Water Projects Under Review; Minister Calls for Long-Term Planning

Bhubaneswar: Major piped drinking water projects in Khordha district and Chilika Assembly constituency should be planned with a 30 to 50-year perspective to prevent repeated digging and disruption, Law, Works and Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said during a review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan.

The Minister took stock of the progress of several projects and directed officials to address delays in construction, land acquisition, forest clearance and removal of encroachments. He stressed that all ongoing works must be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

The review covered the Chilika-Tangi-Banapur piped water supply project, the Ranipada cluster under Banapur block and the Begunia-Bolagarh project. Similar schemes in Balianta, Balipatna and Bhubaneswar blocks were also discussed.

Expressing concern over delays by some contracting agencies, Harichandan asked Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers and other officials to monitor the projects closely and take necessary action against agencies responsible for delays.

He also emphasised coordination among departments to ensure that pure piped drinking water reaches every household. Officials were asked to promptly resolve issues affecting project execution.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Government, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, Girish S.N.; Director of Drinking Water and Sanitation Vineet Bhardwaj; and Khordha Collector Amrit Ruturaj.

Engineer-in-Chief of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Ratnakar Sial, Khordha Divisional Forest Officer Gajanan Lade, Chief Engineer Manoranjan Jena, Chilika BDO Poonam Mahapatra, Chilika Block Chairperson Jyotsna Behera, Banapur Block Chairperson Amarendra Ranasingh, Superintending Engineer Rashmita Das, other departmental officers and representatives of contracting agencies were also present.