Despite six years of the Jal Jeevan Mission, several blocks in Odisha continue to face chronic drinking water distress caused by severe groundwater depletion and widespread contamination from iron, fluoride, salinity, and bacteriological contamination, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Shri V. Somanna informed the Rajya Sabha today.
Acknowledging that drinking water remains a State subject, the Minister said the Centre provides technical and financial assistance under JJM, while planning, execution, and maintenance rest with the Odisha Government.
The Odisha Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department has identified chronically affected blocks and is implementing surface water-based mega piped water supply projects, solar dual-pump schemes, iron removal plants (IRPs), and de-fluoridation units. Source sustainability measures, including recharge structures, restoration of traditional water bodies, and rainwater harvesting, are also being undertaken in coordination with other departments.
However, progress has been hampered as 705 multi-village piped water supply schemes remain delayed due to land acquisition hurdles, contractor defaults, and prolonged Right of Way (ROW) clearances from NH, NHAI, Railways, Forest, and other departments. To fast-track these projects, the State has constituted high-level committees headed by the Development Commissioner and the PR & DW Secretary, besides mandating monthly district-level review meetings under Collectors and imposing penalties on defaulting agencies.
Quality-affected habitations, particularly in Nuapada, Bargarh, Mayurbhanj, and parts of Gajapati, are being prioritised for long-term surface water projects. Meanwhile, community awareness programmes and strengthened Village Water & Sanitation Committees equipped with Field Test Kits are helping monitor and manage water quality at the grassroots.
For immediate summer relief in vulnerable areas, the State is prioritising completion of ongoing schemes while making temporary arrangements such as repairing defunct tube wells and installing new ones.
The Minister reiterated the Government of India’s continued support to Odisha to achieve a sustainable tap water supply to every rural household under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
