Odisha Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik assured the state assembly that every village will receive piped drinking water by March 2027.
Responding to concerns raised during Question Hour, Naik said all 207 mega drinking water projects will be completed within the deadline. He highlighted that as of March 5, 2026, 68.47 lakh households—covering 77.25% of the state’s population—already receive tap water. In 2019, only 3.10 lakh households had access.
The minister informed that 26 mega projects have been completed, while 28 more will be operational by the end of March 2026. He stressed that the government is working to ensure timely completion and warned that agencies delaying or compromising quality will face chargesheets.
Legislators expressed worries about incomplete projects, falling groundwater levels, and rising summer water scarcity. BJP MLA Durga Prasan Nayak demanded faster execution in his constituency, while opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallik raised the issue of contaminated groundwater in Jajpur district. Other members flagged poor‑quality construction and delays.
Naik assured strict monitoring. He said district collectors have been empowered to dig tube wells in problem areas and deploy water tankers where needed. He reiterated that no compromise will be made on the drinking water supply, especially with summer approaching.
