Bhubaneswar, March 31: The Comptroller And Auditor General (CAG) slammed the state government today in its report for the delay in executing the piped drinking water project in Puri.

Addressing a press conference, Accountant General (AG) Amar Patnaik said that, the project was taken up even without finding the source for the drinking water that resulted in the unfruitful expenditure worth Rs 158.16 crore.

Patnaik said the project was to be completed by today. However, the audit, conducted in last December, revealed that there was little progress in the execution of the project. Earlier, the project deadline was decided to be December 2014. "We are doubtful about the completion of the project by this time," Patnaik said.

In July 2008, the Centre had sanctioned the augmentation of drinking water supply system in Puri with a project cost of Rs 166.90 crore under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. It was to ensure the supply of adequate drinking water round the clock.

The state government was to bear the cost of land acquisition worth Rs 17.75 crore. It involved the acquisition of 409.09 acre of private land and alienation of 143.31 acre of government land.

Later, the government added the water supply scheme to another state-funded project - Samuka beach - at an estimated cost of Rs 59.33 crore and accorded the administrative approval in July 2009. The total project cost has now amounted to Rs 243.98 crore.

Citing the reason for the delay, the CAG said the delay in acquisition of private land had resulted in cost overrun. "Despite the approval the central government, the state government initiated the process of land acquisition. The delay in land acquisition process led to the increase in cost from Rs 17.75 crore to Rs 86.19 crore."

The CAG added that the delay in revision of drawing and design of the detailed project report had also led to the delay of the project. This has cast a doubt on the availability of drinking water to nearly 50 lakh people who would congregate in Puri this July to witness the Nabakalebar festival.

Housing and urban development minister Puspendra Singh said: "No one should worry about lack of drinking water. We will make adequate arrangement to provide drinking water to the devotees. Steps are being taken to complete the project at the earliest."