Bhubaneswar, Jan. 15: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated a one lakh-gallon capacity underground reservoir in Badagada and a park in BJB Nagar. The latter will cater to the needs of 4,000 families of the area.

The reservoir built at an estimated cost of Rs 42.9 lakh will provide water to around 12,000 people from 4,000 families of the area.

Public health engineering organisation (PHEO) sources said earlier people of Badagada used to get water directly from the Palasuni water treatment plant, which often resulted in low water pressure.

“As the water comes directly from the Palasuni water treatment plant, often there is seepage leading to unnecessary waste of ground water. Now, with the underground reservoir, people of the area would not have to wait for water,” said a senior officer of the organisation.

There is an overhead tank, which is meant to meet the water supply requirement of Badagada Brit Colony. After commissioning of the reservoir, the entire Badagada village will be divided into two zones and water supply will be done in a phase-wise manner everyday.

Officials of PHEO said that the old underground water pipeline needs to be replaced.

“We will change the pipes and ensure that most people take genuine water supply connections,” said Sudhakar Swain Sudhakar Swain, executive engineer of Division-I. At present, the area has around 150 genuine water supply connections.

Naveen also inaugurated a park in BJB Nagar developed by BDA. The Swami Vivekananda Park spread across 24,000sqft was built at an estimated cost of Rs 31.5 lakh. A bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda is the centre of attraction.

“The place was a landmark but it was not developed into a park. We are happy that the place has been converted to a park,” said Amresh Jena, councillor of ward No. 49.