Odisha Housing & Urban Development Department Additional Chief Secretary, Usha Padhee, IAS, visited Sambalpur to conduct a comprehensive review of key urban infrastructure and welfare projects in the city.
During her visit, ACS Padhee inspected several ongoing and completed projects, including the Jamadarpali Intake Point and the Water Treatment Plant at Tipupada, both being executed by WATCO. She also reviewed the restoration work at Modipada Pond, undertaken by the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC).
At the Affordable Housing Project in Telkopada, she interacted with beneficiaries and emphasized the importance of timely and high-quality execution. She directed the officials involved to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of the project.
Additionally, Padhee visited the Atal Garden at Burla, where she assessed the progress of development works and discussed project planning and execution with the engineering team. She reviewed the quality standards maintained across various project sites.
Further, she visited the IDCO industrial area at Bareipali-Panchgachia to evaluate the functioning of MSME units. She stressed the need to enhance industrial productivity and emphasised the revival and modernisation of dormant units by addressing existing challenges.
Subsequently, a detailed review meeting was conducted at the SMC office, chaired by Padhee. Key urban service areas such as sanitation, street lighting, revenue collection, public grievance redressal, stormwater drainage, and capacity-building initiatives under iGOT Karmayogi were discussed.
She also assessed the progress of projects being implemented by WATCO and the Sewerage Board, urging officials to maintain quality standards and adhere to established timelines.
Padhee underscored the importance of coordinated efforts to ensure the holistic urban development of Sambalpur and directed all departments to expedite project execution for timely completion.
Present during the visit and review meeting were Collector & District Magistrate of Sambalpur, Siddheshwar Baliram Bondar; Commissioner of SMC, Rehan Khatri; and Managing Director of WATCO, Debabrata Mohanty, along with other senior officials.
