A pivotal high-level meeting took place today at Lok Seva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, to enhance coordination among key departments for the timely execution of Mega Piped Water Supply (PWS) Projects across Odisha.
Chaired by the Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary, Anu Garg, the meeting brought together senior officials from the Departments of Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water, Rural Development, Works, Forest & Environment, and Energy, alongside representatives from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The meeting, the second of its kind, focused on resolving bottlenecks in the implementation of these critical water supply initiatives. Following the first meeting on July 4, 2025, which identified 151 pending issues, today’s discussions revealed that 99 issues have been resolved.
The Development Commissioner urged departments to prioritise the remaining 52 issues to maintain momentum. Key decisions included scheduling a follow-up review within 15 days, led by the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the PR&DW Department, and a full Inter-Departmental Committee meeting in a month to ensure all issues are addressed. Dedicated meetings were also planned to tackle forest clearance delays, crucial for water supply and other infrastructure projects, and to assess encroachments along National Highways impacting pipeline works.
The meeting underscored a unified commitment to delivering universal, reliable, and safe drinking water to every rural household in Odisha. “This is a collective mission to transform lives through access to clean water,” said Garg, emphasising the need for sustained inter-departmental collaboration.
As Odisha pushes forward with these ambitious projects, the state sets a benchmark for coordinated governance, aiming to bridge the gap in rural water access and improve the quality of life for millions.
