Odishatv Bureau
Bhubaneswar: Perturbed over the grim scenario of drinking water scarcity in eight districts, the Rural Development department has asked the district collectors to step up measures to fix tube wells and dig wells in the state.

This has come after the expiry of first deadline on March 31 in which the state government had cautioned the authorities of initiation of disciplinary action if the deadline is not met by April 20.

The RD department had ordered the district collectors of the state to repair the defunct tube wells and dig wells on priority basis in view of the rising mercury levels across the state.

Today, the state government has directed the authorities to expedite the works on war-footing and renewed the deadline as there has been reports of little or no progress in various districts.

As per reports, the progress card of 16 districts showed an upward trend whereas there has been minimal progress in eight districts. The worst affected districts – Angul, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Nayagarh, Kandhamal and Puri are reeling under water crisis. While Kandhamal topped the list, Keonjhar and Jagatsinghpur followed the suit.

The tardy progress has prompted the RD department to act upon it. Department has asked the Collectors to convene meetings of the BDOs and executive engineers to chalk out strategies to finish the works at the earliest. 

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