Bhubaneswar: Presiding over a high level review meeting on the progress of drinking water projects undergoing in the state, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed to fulfil the target set in both rural and urban areas by December this year.
The Chief Minister also directed to spend at least Rs 3000 crore per year for development of drinking water infrastructure especially in rural areas.
As per information revealed at the important meeting, the target for pipe water supply in urban areas has to be completed by December 2018. Thus, the target of 1085 million litre drinking water need per day in the urban belt will be met in 2018-19. This target has been fulfilled four years ahead of the deadline.
Similarly, the target of 11,325 kilometre distribution network will also be met in 2018-19 timeline. Last year (2017-18), it had been 7391 km. The state government’s priority is to provide pipe water to each household of the urban areas.
Discussions on ‘BASUDHA’ scheme and other mega drinking water programmes also figured in the significant review meeting. The meeting also informed that arrangement has been made for full drinking water supply to the rural habitats where there were partial facilities.
Accordingly, 48766 human habitats in the rural belt have been supplied completely with drinking water facility between 2014 and 2018.
Similarly, the programme has been expedited to meet the target in at least two villages. Till date, every two villages under 5690 Gram Panchayats (GPs) have been provided with drinking water facility.
The chief minister also directed to complete all the mega drinking water projects targeted for 2017-18 and 2018-19.