Odisha Departments Accelerate Rural Water Projects

A high-level review meeting chaired by Odisha’s Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg convened senior officials from key departments—including Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water (PR&DW), Rural Development, Works, Forest & Environment, and Energy—along with representatives from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to address bottlenecks in the state’s critical rural water supply initiatives.

This was the second such review, following an initial session held on July 4, 2025, which had identified 151 unresolved issues affecting project implementation. Significant progress has since been made, with 99 issues resolved. Garg urged all departments to accelerate efforts to address the remaining 52 issues to maintain momentum on the ground.

Key outcomes of the meeting included:

A follow-up review to be conducted within 15 days, led by the PR&DW Commissioner-cum-Secretary.

A comprehensive Inter-Departmental Committee meeting scheduled within a month.

Special sessions planned to address forest clearance delays and encroachments along national highways that are obstructing pipeline installation.

Reiterating the state’s commitment to universal, safe, and reliable drinking water access for all rural households, Anu Garg emphasized the importance of sustained inter-departmental coordination. She framed the mission as a transformative step toward enhancing rural livelihoods and public health across Odisha.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.