Bhubaneswar, April 23: Odisha government today geared up the official machinery to ensure that no part of the state experiences drinking water scarcity with the mercury on the rise.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who reviewed the status of rural drinking water supply projects, directed officials to complete pipe water supply projects in 845 gram panchayat headquarters, which lack such facilities.

Earlier, the government had decided that all the 6,236 gram panchayat headquarters should have pipe water supply projects. However, 845 gram panchayat headquarters were identified to be without pipe water supply project.

Out of 845 left-out gram panchayat headquarters, detailed project report has been approved for 703 projects. Of these, 283 projects have been completed while rest are under progress. Ninety tenders have been decided on turnkey basis. Each pipe water supply project will have an overhead tank and one tap to each household.

Naveen stressed on time-bound programmes to be taken up to address the drinking water problem in rural areas. He also instructed to take up inspection and repair of all tube wells by this month end. There are more than 3.49 lakh drinking out sources including 3.37 lakh tube wells across more than 1.41 lakh rural habitations.

Officials said that of the total 3.37 lakh drinking sources, 1.75 lakh have been tested and 42,963 have been repaired so far. Out of total 8,384 pipe water supply schemes, 4,497 have been inspected out of which 1,277 have been repaired. As many as 760 mobile vans were deployed for verification and checking of drinking water sources, the meeting was informed.

A junior engineer has been posted in 308 blocks each exclusively for repair and maintenance of tube wells. As many as 134 tankers have been pressed into service for supplying drinking water in water scarce pockets.