Bhubaneswar: Urban local bodies in the state will have water supply coverage with the housing and urban development department sanctioning Rs 115 crore to the Public Health Engineering Organisation (Pheo) for the project.
As part of the universal water supply plan, the Pheo will extend the water supply to uncovered areas, construct more overhead and underground reservoirs and install water meters in households. The plan is to ensure 24-hour water supply to the households.
"We had undertaken a field survey and listed the projects. A proposal has been submitted to the government for their approval. Once approved, we will execute the project. Of the total amount, most will be spend in the city," said Pheo superintending engineer C.R. Jena.
The project will be executed with funds raised from the state budget and not from the centrally-sponsored Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) scheme. Sources said the projects executed in these two components would boost the water supply system here.
"The housing and urban development department has set service level benchmark where it was stated to ensure 24x7 water supply to each city households. At present, we are providing six hours of supply, while the upcoming projects will enable us to achieve the benchmark with ease," said a Pheo official.
The official said the Pheo was planning to have complete coverage of areas including Ashok Nagar, Patia, Bhaktamadhu Nagar, New Forest Park, Patia, Panchasakha Nagar, Paika Nagar, Satabdi Nagar, Sashtir Nagar, Unit IV, Nuasahi, Kalinga Basti and Dhobi Sahi.
"The city is expanding and new areas are coming in our jurisdiction. We need to take care of their need as we have identified the new as well as extended areas of different localities to bring them under the water supply network. We are also conducting drive to provide water supply connection to new households," said the official.
Patia resident Biswamitra Hati said the water supply system of the city was quite good, but the officials need to concentrate on the quality.
"The fear of contamination always haunts me," said Hati.
