The foundation stone for the ambitious project was laid by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in 2017, aiming to provide pure portable drinking water to people residing in 132 villages of the 12 Panchayats in the Bhograi block of the district.
Reportedly, the state government had allocated Rs 80 crores in the first phase for the mega drinking water project and L&T was allowed to execute it by 2019. It was planned that, water will be lifted from Aruhabrutti and another villages near Subarnarekha and will be supplied to residents after purifying it at water treatment plants in Jaleswar. The government had proposed to supply 5112 kiloliters of water to residents of Jayrampur, Jaleswarpur, Jalesharia, Barbatia and Maheshpur with the help of 150 public stand post in the region. However, later the government decided to connect 14,000 household with tap and supply pure drinking water. Even if there was a deadline to complete the project by 2019, so far only 4680 houses have been connected.
“The Mega Water project for Bhograi is just another eyewash. The details of the project have not been discussed in the Panchayat meetings. All the projects are hanging under this government” said, Santosh Jena, Dehurada Panchayat Samiti member.
“As per the old agreement around 90 percent work has been completed and water supply is underway” said Assistant Construction Manager, L&T Tamnay Ray.
Meanwhile, the state government has sanctioned Rs 211 crore to supply pure drinking water through tap connections to residents of 123 villages in 19 Panchayats.
Admitting slow progress of the project “Bhograi is the only block for which two mega projects have been sanctioned. The first mega project started in 2016 but due certain technical defaults, delay in proving land for land for water treatment plant the project has deferred the progress of the project. Work for the five water treatment plant is underway,” said Bhograi MLA Ananta Das.
After completion of the project, drinking water problem in the region will be resolved. The project is delayed and we must admit it. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has undertaken series of measures to resolve drinking water crisis, added Ananta Das.
