Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the severe flood situation triggered by Cyclonic Storm ‘Arnab’, the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water (PR&DW) Department has intensified its emergency response to restore drinking water supply and ensure access to safe drinking water in the affected districts of Odisha, officials said on Sunday.
The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWS&S) wing of the department has mobilised extensive manpower, machinery and emergency resources to expedite relief and restoration operations.
The Director, DWS-cum-Additional Secretary of the PR&DW Department, is currently stationed in Ganjam district to monitor the situation and oversee restoration measures in close coordination with the District Collector.
Senior officials, including Chief Engineers and Officers on Special Duty (OSDs), have been assigned the responsibility of directly supervising relief and restoration operations in Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamala districts.
In addition, a special task force comprising 16 Assistant Engineers and Junior Engineers has been deployed from neighbouring divisions to expedite the restoration of drinking water facilities.
According to the latest field reports available at 1 PM, the department has restored and disinfected 2,593 of the 4,572 affected tube wells. Similarly, 162 of the 393 affected Piped Water Supply (PWS) schemes have been restored, while 227 PWS sources have undergone disinfection. To ensure water safety, 746 tube well water samples and 185 PWS water samples have been tested. The department has also maintained a reserve stock of 1,036 bags of bleaching powder for further disinfection of water sources.
As part of its emergency relief measures, the department has distributed 2,76,500 water bottles and 1,62,500 water pouches produced through Mobile Water Treatment Units (MTUs). Another 2,60,000 units have been kept in reserve for immediate distribution as required.
To ensure an uninterrupted supply of safe drinking water, eight Mobile Water Treatment Units have been deployed in Ganjam district. Four additional units from other districts are also being mobilised and are expected to reach the district by this evening.
The department has also deployed 235 water tankers, 80 tractor-mounted Syntex tanks and 16 dedicated supply tractors to meet the drinking water requirements of affected communities. In addition, 84 diesel generator (DG) sets have been pressed into service to maintain uninterrupted water supply operations in areas facing power disruptions.
In a further administrative move to strengthen post-cyclone restoration efforts, the PR&DW Department has deployed three Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officers, serving as Block Development Officers (BDOs), to Ganjam district. They will assist the district administration in expediting post-cyclone restoration and relief operations.
The department is closely monitoring the ground situation and coordinating with district authorities to ensure that essential drinking water services are restored at the earliest. It has reiterated its commitment to providing safe and adequate drinking water to every affected household throughout the recovery period.
