Odisha Housing and Urban Development Minister, Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, conducted an in-depth review of drinking water supply arrangements in the state’s urban areas.
Following the review, Dr. Mahapatra informed the media about the government’s commitment to ensuring 24/7 provision of quality drinking water to every household by March 2027.
The review highlighted plans to construct barrages to optimize the use of river water and provide clean drinking water. Discussions were held with OWSSB, WATCO, and the Public Health Department to achieve this goal. Detailed measures were deliberated to ensure uninterrupted water supply throughout urban regions. Efforts are underway to address issues in ongoing water projects, maintain strict timelines, and encourage regular monitoring.
Plans to implement smart meters for water usage were also discussed to improve collection systems and ensure efficient water distribution. The government aims to pilot this initiative in select urban areas and expand it statewide upon success. Measures to address water scarcity during droughts, including the operation of control rooms and deployment of additional tankers, were also reviewed.
Dr. Mahapatra emphasized the importance of utilizing groundwater and river water sources effectively and proposed increasing water storage through barrages. The review highlighted the need to manage water resources efficiently as only 17% of river water is utilized, with the rest flowing into the sea.
The meeting was attended by several key officials, including Usha Padhi, Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, Guru Charan Das, Director of WATCO, and other departmental representatives.
