Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed officials to ensure piped drinking water reaches every village in Odisha by March 2027, stressing universal and equitable access, especially in tribal-dominated regions.
Calling the initiative a mission-mode priority, the CM said no revenue village should be left out and urged the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department to accelerate comprehensive coverage. Odisha has 46,531 villages, of which 21,721 already have piped water connections, with large-scale projects underway to bridge the remaining gap.
The state has earmarked ₹54,000 crore for the rural piped water programme, including ₹32,128 crore from the Jal Jeevan Mission and ₹21,109 crore from the state government. Ongoing interventions include mega drinking water projects, solar-powered systems, and single-village schemes.
Officials highlighted rapid progress: three mega projects were completed between 2017 and June 2024, followed by 23 additional mega projects since June 2024. Over the past 20 months, the government has implemented 2,951 single-village projects, 2,702 solar drinking water projects, and installed 26,137 tube wells.
The review meeting was attended by senior officials, including Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, and other top bureaucrats.
The push underscores Odisha’s broader sustainable development agenda, aiming to transform rural living standards by ensuring safe and reliable drinking water for every household.
-OdishaAge
