Bhubaneswar, June 16: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday launched a veiled attack on the previous BJD government over the alleged failure to complete the proposed mega drinking water projects across the State.

Of the 207 proposed mega drinking water projects during the previous BJD government, only 16 have reportedly been finished in the state, despite years of planning.

The Chief Minister highlighted the alarming spread of the cholera in Jajpur district due to drinking water crisis across multiple districts. In Jajpur, only 28% of households reportedly have access to piped drinking water. The situation is grimmer in Korei, Bari, and Rasulpur blocks, where between 50% to 70% of families remain cut off from clean water.

Blaming mismanagement and alleged favouritism under the previous State government, CM Majhi claimed that major contracts were handed to companies from South India states, particularly from Tamil Nadu, through package deals, sidelining accountability. He pointed to his own village to illustrate the persistence of water scarcity despite prior allocations.

Backing up his statements with data from the Jal Jeevan Mission, CM Majhi emphasized that many rural communities still suffer from acute water shortages. In an interview with Argus News, the Chief Minister called for immediate corrective action and transparency, promising investigation and action against non-performing contractors.

As Odisha’s BJP government marks one year in office, drinking water crisis has taken center stage in their performance review. The CM's article in a leading daily echoed his stance, asserting that cleanup and completion of these essential infrastructure projects will now be a top priority.

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