Bhubaneswar: The housing and urban development department has come up with a special plan to ensure smooth supply of drinking water to people during the monsoon season.

The southwest monsoon entered the state on June 8, and according to the prediction of the local meteorological centre, it would start lashing Odisha after June 25.

The public health engineering organisation (Pheo) officials have been directed to keep adequate quantity of bleaching powder and chemicals such as alum and lime at their respective divisions and take immediate steps to disinfect water supplied from various sources - underground and overhead reservoirs.

Pheo will ensure 24-hour surveillance and put up a monitoring system for restoration of any kind of breakdown in the supply system. Special mobile squads will also be kept ready to handle exigencies. Steps will be taken to ensure that water is disinfected properly to prevent outbreak of water-borne diseases.

"It is a usual process during the monsoon as there are fears of breakdown and epidemics, if water gets contaminated. We have deployed our officials to tackle the situation," said Pheo superintending engineer C.R. Jena.

Pheo will put up a control room in each division with a nodal officer-in-charge to receive complaints from the residents and take steps to address them on a priority manner. A source said the control room with a help line number would start functioning from June 27.

Pheo will also mobilise water tankers to ensure supply of drinking water during emergency situations. "Adequate number of water tankers will be put up at various places to provide immediate relief to people affected by a flood-like situation or during power failure," Jena said.

Pheo will make sure that all the hand pumps tube wells, production well, pumping machineries, electrical and mechanical installation remain functional. The officials will check the machineries and take up repair work as required.

Besides, diesel generators will also be kept ready at the flood-prone areas to tackle power failure.

The housing and urban development department has also directed the public health officials not to go on leave without genuine reasons or obtaining the permission from higher authorities.

"It is a welcome step by the authorities to come up with a structured plan to ensure water supply," said social worker Alok Mohanty.