Bhubaneswar, Aug. 4: The newly formed Water Corporation of Odisha, a state government-owned company to address the water supply and sewage disposal issues, has created confusion among residents.

The Odisha Water Supply and Sewerage Board executes major water supply and sewerage projects in the city. On completion, it hands over the projects to the public health engineering organisation for maintenance.

But, the residents were recently told that according to a constitutional amendment, the water supply activities in the city would be brought under the fold of the civic body. Accordingly, the civic bodies inked an agreement with the public health on January 15.

And now, the state government has formed this "wholly-owned not for-profit" corporation to address the water related issues.

"If the water corporation is going to look after all the water supply issues, what will happen to the civic body's claim about bringing all public services under its fold according to the amendment? Besides, what will be the public health's role?" asked Sumant Shekhar, a resident.

Tomorrow, the urban development department, under which the public health works, would hold a meeting to discuss the issues.

However, sources in the organisation said that though the water supply activities had been transferred to the civic bodies, those were found to be ill equipped to address the issues.

"The new corporation would be a better option to take care of water supply, sewerage collection and treatment," said an official.

Public health (urban) chief engineer Kshitish Chandra Sahu, who has been appointed as one of the directors of the company, said the new company would look after all the issues related to water supply.

"The portion of the public health activities that had been transferred to the civic body would be handed over to the company. Besides, tomorrow's meeting will make things clear about all these issues," he said.

But, there is also an apprehension that formation of the new company may lead the government to shut down the public health wing that has been taking care of the water supply issues.

An official said the water corporation would look after the water supply and sewerage works in Bhubaneswar in the first phase. Later, it will cover municipalities of Khurda and Jatni, and then, the entire state. The housing and urban development department has 51 per cent equity shares in the company followed by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation with 26 per cent shares.

Besides the public health, board and the municipalities of Khurda and Jatni have 5 per cent shares each. The Bhubaneswar Development Authority has 3 per cent stakes in the company.