Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik concluded a three-day state-level review of mega rural piped drinking water supply projects, covering all 35 RWS&S divisions across Odisha.
The Minister held the review from December 10 to 12 at the MGNREGA Conference Hall and examined 207 projects across the Central, Northern, and Southern Revenue Divisions. He took a strict view of delays and warned agencies that missed deadlines with blacklisting and FIRs. He emphasised accountability as non-negotiable, given the importance of clean drinking water for rural households.
On the first day, the Minister reviewed 68 projects under 12 divisions in the Central Revenue Division, including Athagarh, Balasore, Baripada, Bhadrak, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Nayagarh, Puri, and Rairangpur. He noted eight completed projects and scrutinised 60 ongoing ones.
On the second day, he reviewed 77 projects under 14 divisions of the Northern Revenue Division, including Angul, Balangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Dhenkanal, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Nuapada, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Sonepur, and Sundergarh. He confirmed 14 completed projects and assigned strict timelines for 63 ongoing ones.
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On the final day, he reviewed 62 projects under nine divisions of the Southern Revenue Division, including Gajapati, Berhampur, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Phulbani, Rayagada, and Bhanjanagar. He acknowledged three completed projects and examined 59 under construction.
The Minister directed all divisions to complete projects on time and submit Har Ghar Jal certification. He reiterated that both the Central and State Governments are committed to providing safe drinking water to every rural household. He highlighted that under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, drinking water supply stands at the core of Odisha’s rural development agenda.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary S.N. Girish, Director of Drinking Water Vinit Bhardwaj, EIC RWSS Ratnakar Sial, senior engineers, departmental officials, and construction agencies attended the meeting.
