Post News Network
Puri, Feb 3: Housing and urban development minister Puspendra Singh Deo Tuesday reviewed the progress of several infrastructure projects being implemented by the state government for the upcoming Nabakalebar festival in the pilgrim city.
Singh Deo stressed the need for arranging safe drinking water from all possible sources to cater to the needs of a humungous crowd. Public health and engineering organistaion (PHEO) officials informed the minister about tardy progress of the mega drinking water project, being constructed under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
“The `243.98-crore drinking water project cannot be completed before the Nabakalebar. The city will have a daily requirement of around 58 million litre of water during the mega event. At least 25 new production wells will be dug up at the sweet water reserve land and 35 wells at other places in the city to cater the need. Besides, 1,200 temporary tube-wells will be commissioned for the event,” PHEO officials told the minister.
A few officials expressed their concern over utilisation of groundwater in cleaning train coaches at the city railway station. Collector Aravind Agarwal sought a report on the issue from PHEO within three days.
Municipality chairperson Jayanta Sarangi expressed his dissatisfaction over non-allocation of additional funds to the civic body for the mega event. “The civic body is experiencing funds crunch and we have urged the state government to allocate `60 crore for infrastructure overhaul in the city. However, there is no response from the government,” Sarangi said.Expressing his concern over water contamination at a few places in the city, Singh Deo said, “Special squads will be constituted to keep tabs on the quality of drinking water at hotels and lodgings in the city. The squads will conduct surprise raids on hotels and other tourist shelters regularly.”
