Odisha To Invest Rs 75,000 Cr On Water Resources Development

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will invest Rs 75,000 crore on development of water resources in the state for the next five years, said chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday.

Reviewing the status of the water resources and drinking water and utilization of the District Mineral Fund (DMF) in Sambalpur, Bargarh, Jharsuguda and Sundargrah districts during a meeting at the district headquarters in Jharsuguda, the chief minister directed the Water Resources department to formulate a comprehensive river policy within three months.

He said the state government will construct barrages at some places on the downstream of Mahanadi to conserve the river water which will be utilized for irrigation and supply drinking water. “The barrages will be constructed at places where there is no possibility of displacement of people,” he added.

Naveen further informed that concrete lining on both sides of Bargarh and Sasan Main Canals would be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore. The work will be completed within three years. He directed the Water Resources department to begin tender process for construction of Gangadhar Meher Mega Lift Canal System within three months.

Besides, the chief minister asked the Panchayati Raj and Water Resources departments to utilize the DMF to solve the problem of drinking water on a priority basis and assess the manpower required for implementation of the mega pipe water supply scheme in all DMF districts.

Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan, principal secretary, Water Resources Pradip Jena and collectors of Sambalpur, Bargarh, Jharsuguda and Sundargrah districts were present at the meeting.