Bhubaneswar, 16/1 : The Odisha state government has issued urgent directives to accelerate infrastructure development after official data released today revealed a stark deficit in the completion of mega drinking water supply projects. As of Friday, only 26 out of the sanctioned 207 mega projects have been fully commissioned, prompting the state administration to set aggressive targets for the remaining 181 initiatives.
The status report, highlighted in a review by the state administration today, indicates that while the government has made significant strides in rural connectivity, the mega water supply infrastructure remains a critical bottleneck. Official sources confirmed that out of the pending projects, 134 have achieved more than 50 percent physical progress, while 47 projects are still in the preliminary stages of execution. These delays have raised concerns regarding the state’s ability to meet its universal potable water targets under schemes like the Jal Jeevan Mission and Basudha.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg, who reviewed the progress of these projects earlier this week, has instructed officials to identify specific causes for the stagnation. The review highlighted severe lags in tribal-dominated districts, with Rayagada reporting 15 pending projects, followed by Mayurbhanj with 11 and Sundargarh with 10. The Chief Secretary has mandated the creation of a strict timeline for every outstanding project, emphasizing that accountability will be fixed for unjustified delays.
The projects are being funded through a convergence of resources, including the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), and district-specific allocations from the Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC) and District Mineral Foundation (DMF). Despite the availability of funds, execution challenges on the ground—ranging from land acquisition to contractor performance—have slowed the pace.
In addition to the mega projects, the state government also reviewed the status of smaller rural water infrastructure. Data shows that 18,233 single village piped water projects have been completed, with 872 still under implementation. Furthermore, out of the targeted solar-powered tube wells, 6,435 have been commissioned, while over 2,000 remain unfinished.
The administration has made it clear that the expedited completion of these projects is non-negotiable. Officials have been directed to resolve inter-departmental bottlenecks immediately to ensure that the benefits of these massive investments reach the intended beneficiaries in the current fiscal year.
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