In a major push to accelerate clean drinking water availability across Khordha district and the Chilika assembly constituency, Minister for Law, Works, and Excise, Prithviraj Harichandan, chaired a high-level review meeting today at the Lok Seva Bhavan conference hall.
The meeting focused extensively on evaluating progress across key regional initiatives, including the Chilika–Tangi–Banpur piped water supply project, the Ranipada cluster under Banpur block, and the Begunia–Bolagarh water supply framework. Officials also reviewed piped drinking water initiatives planned for Balipatna, Balianta, and Bhubaneswar blocks.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Harichandan emphasised that providing clean, piped water to every household requires seamless inter-departmental coordination and fast-track execution. He instructed officials to promptly resolve crucial roadblocks—such as land acquisition issues, forest clearances, and encroachment removal—by coordinating directly with the appropriate administrative authorities.
Highlighting a strategic approach to infrastructure development, the Minister stressed that large-scale project design must account for local requirements over the next 30 to 50 years. Long-term forecasting, he noted, prevents unnecessary destruction and re-excavation during future expansions.
Minister Harichandan took a stern stance against unnecessary delays, pointing out that several contracting agencies tend to stall progress under various pretexts after taking up work orders. He instructed chief engineers, superintending engineers, and departmental officers to maintain strict monitoring and initiate decisive punitive action against defaulting contractors when necessary.
The high-level review saw participation from prominent officials, including Commissioner-cum-Secretary for Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Girish S.N., Drinking Water Director Vineet Bhardwaj, Khordha Collector Amrit Ruturaj, RWSS Engineer-in-Chief Ratnakar Sial, Khordha DFO Gajanan Lade, RWSS Chief Engineer Manoranjan Jena, Chilika BDO Mrs. Poonam Mohapatra, Chilika Block Chairperson Mrs. Jyotsna Behera, Banpur Block Chairperson Amarendra Ranasingh, RWSS Superintending Engineer Rasmita Das, alongside key departmental officers and representatives from executing agencies.
