Bhubaneswar: April 19: A high level review meeting was held today at state secretariat here on the prevailing drinking water crisis in the state, which was presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Just after the meeting, briefing to Media persons Special Relief Commissioner(SRC) Pradipta Kumar Mahapatra said, the State Government will spend Rs.40 crore towards providing drinking water to all urban households. Also, it has been decided to provide drinking water to all urban poor households free of cost.
Chief Minister also ordered verification of all water supply hot spots under the Rural Water Supply Department within seven days and asked the Chief Engineer of concerned department to submit a report of verification to the state government by April 30. It was also decided that the SRC’s office will release Rs 25 crore to augment water supply through pipes, tankers and additional means to the urban areas.
The chief minister directed the concerned departments to dig one tube well each in all 27,711 partially covered habitations in the state at a cost of Rs 195 crore. “ Instructions have been given to all panchayats to earmark at least 30 percent of their fund for pipe water supply to be done by the Rural Water Supply (RWS) department to ensure pipe water supply to all panchayats,,” the SRC added.
The state government is constantly monitoring the grievances of the people through the Sanjog Helpline – toll-free number is 18003456770/155335 – and trying to ensure that all complaints received through this number are attended. “Government is taking stock of the number of complaints received and attended through this helpline every evening,” he pointed out.
Also, it is decided in the review meeting to cancel the leave of all staffs and engineers of the department related to drinking water supply till the heat wave relents. Rs 300 crore given by the 13th Finance Commission to all panchayats in the state, which is now with the district administration will be earmarked for drinking water infrastructure, SRC said.
