At a time when Odisha is confronting severe drinking water shortages across multiple blocks, a staggering 705 multi-village piped water supply projects have been hit by significant delays. The setbacks, attributed to protracted land acquisition processes, underperforming contractors, and pending statutory clearances, were disclosed by Minister of State for Jal Shakti, V. Somanna, in the Rajya Sabha.
Minister's Reply Reveals Scale of the Problem
In a written response to a query from BJD MP Sasmit Patra, Minister Somanna clarified that while providing drinking water is a state responsibility, the central government offers technical and financial assistance through the Jal Jeevan Mission. The mission's core objective is to guarantee tap water supply to every rural household. However, the path to achieving this in Odisha is riddled with obstacles currently stalling over 700 crucial schemes.
The state government's own assessment identifies several districts grappling with water quality issues. Areas in Nuapada, Bargarh, Mayurbhanj, and parts of Gajapati are affected by contaminants like fluoride, iron, salinity, and harmful bacteria. To combat this, the administration has rolled out an array of solutions including large-scale surface water-based mega projects, solar-powered initiatives, and the installation of specialized iron removal and defluoridation plants.
Hurdles Hampering Progress and Government's Countermeasures
Despite these plans, progress on the 705 multi-village schemes remains sluggish. The primary bottlenecks include:
- Difficulties in acquiring necessary land.
- Non-performance and negligence by the implementing agencies and contractors.
- Delays in obtaining mandatory approvals from bodies like the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the forest department, and railways.
To accelerate the work, the state has instituted high-level committees led by senior officials and made monthly district-level coordination meetings compulsory. The government has also introduced penalties for defaulting agencies and strengthened monitoring mechanisms. With summer approaching, special measures are being prioritized, including fast-tracking ongoing projects and making temporary arrangements like repairing and installing new tube wells.
Broader Context of Water Safety and Infrastructure Spend
The revelation about delayed projects comes amidst growing concerns over drinking water safety in the state. A recent groundwater quality assessment by the Odisha State Pollution Control Board raised alarms about the safety of water in Bhubaneswar and other urban centers.
In a related development in the state assembly, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik provided further insight into the scale of the water infrastructure push. He stated that the government has undertaken 207 mega piped water supply projects in the last five years, with 25 completed so far. A massive sum of approximately Rs 35,193 crore has been earmarked for these initiatives, out of which around Rs 17,502 crore has already been utilized.
On addressing water pollution, Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia, in a separate reply, outlined steps being taken. These include enhancements to the sewerage network, improvements in greywater management systems, and the establishment of septage treatment plants to ensure a more sustainable and cleaner water ecosystem for the state.
