The Water Resources Department convened a high‑level review meeting chaired by Principal Secretary Shubha Sharma to assess project implementation and expenditure progress.
The meeting focused on accelerating ongoing developmental works, ensuring effective budget utilisation, and achieving timely completion of irrigation, drainage, dam, barrage, and canal projects across Odisha.
Senior officials were directed to expedite tender finalisation, issue work orders promptly, and resolve pending approvals and EFC proposals. The Principal Secretary emphasised realistic cost estimation and productive investment of funds within the financial year to maximise impact.
The review underscored that departmental spending must be result‑oriented, not merely target‑driven. Priority was placed on completing ongoing projects, expanding irrigation potential, strengthening water‑resource infrastructure, and delivering tangible benefits to citizens.
A presentation was made on the PM Gati Shakti portal, followed by discussions on improving water‑rate collection and upgrading the portal for better monitoring and management. Officials were asked to leverage digital platforms for transparency and efficiency.
The meeting also discussed Odisha’s nomination for the National Water Awards, reflecting the state’s commitment to sustainable water management.
Among those present were Chief Engineer Dillip Kumar Rout, senior engineers, and departmental officers.
