Drinking Water Project Moves at Snail's Pace.

The ambitious drinking water supply project, which aimed at providing relief from water scarcity during summer to people of the town, is moving at a snail’s pace. Though Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone of the project in 2009, work was started under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Town of Ministry of Urban Development in 2011. While the project was stipulated to be completed in 11 months, major project components are yet to be completed till date.

According to sources, the project envisages construction of two reservoirs spread over 68 acres to store water in lean season when water is not released in canals, filtration plant and four overhead tanks in different locations of the town besides laying of pipes to supply water from the project site to the underground sumps on overhead tank premises. The project cost was estimated at Rs. 30 crores. While the reservoirs are completed, work on filtration plant, overhead tanks and laying of pipes is still going on. After the project was stalled for quite a long time, officials of PHED and contractor have resumed the work recently.


THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS