Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday dedicated as many as 500 drinking water projects in 95 urban settlements at an event at Jatni on the outskirts of the Capital City.
The drinking water projects would benefit as many as 33 lakh people in the state, sources said. The state government has spent altogether Rs 408 crore on the projects.
Apart from that, Patnaik also inaugurated Bhubaneswar Bulk Water Supply Project at the event.
The new project would ensure drinking water for the people of Khurda and Jatni towns. Moreover, it would cater to the drinking water needs of people residing near IIT-Bhubaneswar and NISER, sources said.
“The state government had launched the BASUDHA scheme in the memory of Buxi Jagabandhu, the hero of Paika Rebellion in Odisha. The rebellion has completed 200 years recently. I am happy to dedicate 500 drinking water projects under the BASUDHA scheme,” Patnaik said while speaking at the event.
Patnaik laid emphasis on the provision of potable water to people. “Safe drinking water has a direct link with people’s health, which in turn has much impact on the country’s economy. Our aim is to ensure piped drinking water supply to all households in the state. The state government has allocated Rs 3,500 crore for drinking water projects in this year’s budget,” Patnaik said. Notably, the state government had allocated only Rs 190 crore for drinking water in 2014.
The Chief Minister further claimed that piped drinking water would benefit the women the most. “Piped water would save the time and labour of women. The women self-help groups in urban areas have been assigned the duty of water monitor,” he said.
The Chief Minister also asked people to check water pollution to ensure the betterment of our posterity.
Among others, Housing and Urban Development minister Niranjan Pujari, MP Prasanna Patsani and MLA Rajendra Sahu were present at the event.
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