Budget Session: Opposition, Treasury Bench Express Concern Over Drinking Water Scarcity In Odisha

With several parts of Odisha grappling with potable water scarcity, the Opposition as well as ruling party legislators raised concern over the long-standing issue during the Budget session of the State legislature on Tuesday.

Expressing displeasure over the protracted delay in the completion of drinking water projects in the State, Opposition chief whip Mohan Majhi said, “The State government has completed only nine projects in its 22 years of ruling. The government should reply why many projects are still incomplete. In Keonjhar, my constituency, the project began five years ago. But it is yet to be completed,” Majhi said seeking the concerned Minister’s reply on the operational date of the project.

Similarly, Congress leaders Narasingha Mishra and Tara Prasad Bahinipati raised the matter in the House while BJD MLA Pradip Amat asked about the steps that the government has taken to ensure drinking water supply till the ‘mega piped drinking water project is launched’.

“The people of Odisha are suffering due to scarcity of drinking water. Surprisingly, people are still deprived of potable water even after the launch of piped drinking water project in several areas,” Congress legislature party leader Narasingha Mishra said.

Echoing similar views, BJD MLA Pradip Amat said, “The government had earlier stated that in areas where mega piped drinking water project has begun will not be provided with tube wells. But neither are we getting piped drinking water nor getting potable water from tube wells. The government should provide us tube wells till the drinking water project is launched.”

Replying to the questions over the issue, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Pratap Jena said, "Piped drinking water will be provided in all urban households by the end of this year. The Odisha government aims to complete the same in rural areas by 2024."