Bhubaneswar, Oct. 2: Jagamara resident Nirmal Hota's wait for household water connection will be over by next March.

The Public Health Engineering Organisation (Pheo) is expected to commission 55 projects by March to strengthen water supply in the city and its outskirts.

Pheo supplies 295.30 million litres of water a day to city households against the required 120.62 million litres. But, 33 of the 67 wards are yet to be covered completely under the water supply chain. With the 55 projects, Pheo aims to cover the areas where water supply has not yet reached.

Hota said the administration had promised water supply to their area a year ago, but in vain. 'They have only put up some stand-posts in our area. But, we demand household connections,' said the shopkeeper.

'We are hopeful that we will be able to completely cover 20 of the 33 partially covered wards,' said an official.

The Pheo will execute 23 projects at Bapuji Nagar, Jagamara and Old Town, seven at Palasuni and Chandrasekharpur and 25 at Ghatikia, Raghunath Nagar and Kalinga Nagar.

The new projects include laying of new pipes to the uncovered areas, replacement of old pipes and relocation of pipes near drains.

Pheo will spent Rs 50.94 crore in the process - a proposal for which has been submitted to the state housing and urban development department for approval and fund sanction.While most of the projects will be executed under the Centre's Amrut scheme, the state government will fund some. 'Every year, we come up with list of projects under our annual action plan module to improve water supply in the city. The list has been sent for approval. The work will begin this month,' said Pheo superintending engineer C.R. Jena.