Argus News - Odisha Govt To Hold Weekly Reviews, Drinking Water Projects in Focus

Bhubaneswar, Jan 15: The Odisha government has decided to institutionalise weekly review meetings every Saturday to track progress on field-level projects, with a particular emphasis on mega drinking water projects, officials said on Thursday.

At a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg today, Secretaries were reportedly instructed to intensify budget utilisation and ensure timely completion of priority works. In addition, monthly meetings with District Collectors will be held on the 16th of every month to strengthen coordination between the Secretariat and local administration.

Chief Minister Mohan Majhi’s 15-point action plan was reviewed during the deliberations, with officials directed to accelerate its implementation. The plan covers key areas including infrastructure development, welfare delivery, and governance reforms.

The meeting also discussed revenue collection strategies, legal amendments, and measures to streamline expenditure. Secretaries were asked to ensure that flagship projects, particularly those related to drinking water supply, are closely monitored during field visits.

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Yesterday, Chief Secretary Garg conducted a detailed review of rural drinking water projects across the State. Under the single-village piped water supply programme, 18,233 projects have been commissioned, while 872 remain under implementation. In the solar-powered tube well–linked system, 6,435 projects have been completed and 2,189 are still in progress.

Officials noted that out of 207 mega projects sanctioned under schemes such as Jal Jeevan Mission, Basudha, Rural Infrastructure Development Fund, Ombudsman, District Mineral Foundation (DMF), and State Finance Commission (SFC), 26 have been completed while 181 are under construction. The meeting reviewed the status of 134 projects that have crossed the halfway mark.

Districts with the highest number of ongoing mega projects include Rayagada (15), Mayurbhanj (11), and Sundargarh (10). The Chief Secretary directed officials to ensure that projects are completed within stipulated timelines and advised departments to adhere strictly to set targets.

Officials said the new system of structured reviews is expected to improve accountability, enhance transparency, and accelerate the pace of rural drinking water supply initiatives across Odisha.