Bhubaneswar: April 20: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday dedicated 100 urban drinking water supply projects in the state at a function at the State Secretariat here.
‘Government will spend 63 crore on these projects and 27 lakhs people of urban local bodies (ULBs), including 5 municipal corporations in 20 districts of state will get benefit out of it’, Patnaik said on the occasion.
Dedicating this projects as part of the birth centenary celebrations of Biju Patnaik as well as the 80th year of the state’s formation, Chief Minister said, state government is committed to provide equitable, affordable, sustainable and safe drinking water to the urban population with a special focus on the urban poor.’ Government is working towards providing 135 litres of water per person per day and to provide piped water supply to all urban households, including those in the slum areas.
State government will provide free domestic water supply connections to all urban poor and economically weaker house-holds in the state by waiving the upfront connection fee of Rs 500. The Housing and Urban Development department has identified 422 water scarce areas in 185 wards of 24 urban local bodies facing shortage of water during summer.
Construction of all 100 urban drinking water projects have been completed and to be inaugurated by the local MLAs in 20 districts in the next two days.
