Pipe water supply to all panchayat headquarters by 2014

The State Government has decided to provide pipe water supply to all panchayat headquarters by March, 2014.

A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here on Tuesday.

Provision of overhead tanks for storing water will also be made to ensure uninterrupted water supply.

Official sources said pipe water projects had been taken up for 850 panchayat headquarters in 2012. A policy decision has also been made to provide 55 litres of water per head daily. This facility will be provided to a family within 250 metres of their house.

The Chief Minister, who reviewed different drinking water supply projects at the meeting, asked the officials to expedite completion of the ongoing projects.  Steps taken to check spread of fluorosis in Nuapada district due to intake of fluoride contaminated water was also reviewed.

Sources said out of 1,612 villages, safe drinking water provision had already been made for 1,301 villages. Steps are being taken to cover the rest of the 311 villages in 2012-13.

Successful implementation of the Nirmal Bharat Abhijan and different drinking water schemes by strengthening the gram sabha was discussed.

Rural Development Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh, Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik, Principal Secretary in the Finance Department Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Aditya Prasad Padhi, Rural Development Department Secretary SN Tripathy and senior officials attended.