Bhubaneswar: A three-day state-level review meeting on mega rural piped drinking water supply projects concluded today at the MGNREGA Conference Hall of the State Institute for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Bhubaneswar.
The review, held from December 10 to 12, assessed major piped water supply projects implemented under all 35 RWS&S Divisions across Odisha’s three revenue divisions.
Chairing the meeting, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water and Rural Development Minister Rabi Narayan Naik expressed strong displeasure over delays and issued strict warnings to implementing agencies. He made it clear that any agency failing to meet deadlines would be blacklisted and face FIRs. “Accountability in execution is non-negotiable,” the Minister asserted, stressing the critical importance of ensuring clean drinking water for rural households.
On the first day, the Minister reviewed 68 major projects under 12 RWS&S Divisions of the Central Revenue Division, including Athagarh, Balasore, Baripada, Bhadrak, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Nayagarh, Puri and Rairangpur. Of these, 8 projects have been completed, while 60 ongoing projects were reviewed in detail.
The second day focused on 77 major projects under 14 divisions of the Northern Revenue Division—Anandpur, Angul, Balangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Nuapada, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Sonepur and Sundergarh. A total of 14 projects are completed and operational, while 63 ongoing projects were reviewed and fresh completion timelines were set.
On the final day, 62 major projects under 9 divisions of the Southern Revenue Division—Gajapati, Berhampur, Bhanjanagar, Kalahandi, Phulbani, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Rayagada—came under review. Among these, 3 projects have been completed and 59 are under construction.
In all, 207 projects—completed and ongoing—were reviewed over the three days. Implementing agencies and departmental officers presented detailed technical, financial and operational updates. The Minister examined project-wise responsibility matrices, sought explanations for delays, and directed corrective actions to expedite progress.
Minister Naik also instructed all divisions to ensure the timely completion and submission of ‘Har Ghar Jal’ certifications. Reaffirming the commitment of both the Central and State Governments to providing clean drinking water to every rural household, he noted that under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, drinking water supply remains at the core of Odisha’s rural development agenda.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary S.N. Girish briefed the Minister on the status of each project. The meeting was attended by Director (Drinking Water) Vinit Bhardwaj, EIC (RWSS) Ratnakar Sial, SEs and EEs of various RWS&S divisions, departmental officials and representatives of multiple construction agencies.
