Odisha’s mega drinking water projects in limbo amid peak summer heat

As temperatures soar across Odisha, thousands of rural residents are grappling with an acute drinking water crisis despite the promise of government-backed mega water supply projects. Years after they were launched with much fanfare and heavy investment, many of these projects remain incomplete, pushing villagers to desperation.

In Jajpur’s Korai Block, 30% Work Still Pending

Sources cited an example from the Korai block of Jajpur district, where a long-delayed mega drinking water project has become a symbol of administrative inaction and lost hope. Launched over a decade ago to provide piped drinking water to more than 2 lakh people across 28 gram panchayats, the project was designed to draw water from the Baitarani and Kharasrota rivers.

Despite being awarded to Mega Engineering Pvt. Ltd., progress has been painfully slow. Despite multiple deadlines passing, locals allege that only 30% of the work has been completed so far.

“Summer has made life unbearable. We have no access to clean water and no answers from officials,” said Deepak Das, a resident of Chhotaraipur village.

Acknowledging the delay, Jajpur Sub-Collector Nabakrushna Jena said, “We are holding discussions with the project team. Necessary steps will be taken to resume and complete the work.”

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Bhadrak’s Dilo Shasan: Families Rely on River Water

Similarly, in the neighboring Bhadrak district, the situation is equally grim. In the Dilo Shasan village of the Dhamnagar block, over 250 people across 25 families are forced to depend on nearby river water as their three village tube wells have nearly dried up, the reports added.

“We’ve complained repeatedly to the administration, but no action has been taken,” said Bimala Panigrahi, a local resident. “We’re left with no choice but to fetch water from the river.”

Like Jajpur, here, too, a delayed mega water supply project has failed to meet its objectives, worsening the plight of residents.

“We are aware of the issue and are working on a solution,” assured Shiv Prasad Budula, Assistant Engineer in the Public Health Engineering Department.

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Villagers Demand Urgent Intervention

From Korai to Dhamnagar, the story is the same, with broken promises and drying hopes. Locals say the water crisis is not just a seasonal struggle but a year-round reality made worse by failed infrastructure.

“We’ve waited long enough,” said Maheshwata Mahalik, Sarpanch of Kothar panchayat. “These are not luxuries we are asking for but basic survival amenities,” he said.

As the heat intensifies and groundwater levels continue to fall, villagers across Odisha are demanding swift government intervention to finish the long-stalled projects and restore access to safe drinking water.

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Until then, they are left to rely on rivers, wells, and lakes, which are again at risk of contamination from industrial discharge.

(Reported by Janmejaya Das from Jajpur and Vivekananda Samal from Dhamnagar)