Odisha Reviews Mega Rural Drinking Water Projects Across State
Minister issues firm warning on delays, stresses timely completion to ensure safe water for every village
Bhubaneswar : Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik has completed a three-day, state-level review of mega rural piped drinking water supply projects across Odisha. The review was held from December 10 to December 12 at the MGNREGA Conference Hall and covered all 35 Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWS&S) divisions in the state.
During the review, the Minister assessed a total of 207 drinking water projects spread across the Central, Northern, and Southern Revenue Divisions. The focus of the exercise was to check progress, identify bottlenecks, and ensure that rural households receive safe and reliable drinking water without further delay.
Minister Naik took a tough stand against agencies responsible for delayed execution. He made it clear that missing deadlines will not be tolerated and warned of strict action, including blacklisting of agencies and filing of FIRs where necessary.
He stressed that access to clean drinking water is a basic necessity and not an optional service. “Accountability is non-negotiable when it comes to drinking water for rural families,” the Minister said, directing officials to closely monitor progress and hold implementing agencies responsible.
Central Revenue Division Under Review
On the first day, the Minister reviewed 68 projects under 12 divisions of the Central Revenue Division. These divisions included Athagarh, Balasore, Baripada, Bhadrak, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Nayagarh, Puri, and Rairangpur.
Out of the 68 projects, eight were reported as completed. The remaining 60 projects were under various stages of construction. The Minister examined reasons for delays, directed officials to resolve land and power issues quickly, and set clear timelines for completion.
Northern Revenue Division Assessment
The second day was devoted to the Northern Revenue Division, where 77 projects across 14 divisions were reviewed. These included Angul, Balangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Dhenkanal, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Nuapada, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Sonepur, and Sundergarh.
The Minister noted that 14 projects in this region had been completed. For the remaining 63 ongoing projects, he issued strict instructions to adhere to revised timelines. He also asked field engineers to visit project sites more frequently and submit regular progress reports.
Southern Revenue Division Projects
On the final day, the review covered 62 projects under nine divisions of the Southern Revenue Division. These divisions included Gajapati, Berhampur, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Phulbani, Rayagada, and Bhanjanagar.
Only three projects in this region had been completed so far, while 59 were still under construction. The Minister expressed concern over slow progress in some tribal and remote areas but acknowledged logistical challenges. He directed officials to improve coordination with district administrations to fast-track the remaining work.
Focus on Har Ghar Jal Certification
Minister Naik instructed all divisions to ensure timely completion of projects and obtain Har Ghar Jal certification once household connections are provided. He reiterated that both the Central and State Governments are committed to delivering safe drinking water to every rural household under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
He also highlighted that under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, drinking water supply has been placed at the centre of Odisha’s rural development agenda. Ensuring reliable water access, he said, is essential for public health, livelihoods, and overall quality of life in villages.
The review meetings were attended by Commissioner-cum-Secretary S.N. Girish, Director of Drinking Water Vinit Bhardwaj, Engineer-in-Chief (RWSS) Ratnakar Sial, senior engineers, departmental officials, and representatives of construction agencies.
The Minister concluded the review by calling for teamwork, discipline, and transparency, stressing that timely delivery of drinking water projects is a shared responsibility and a top priority for the government.
