Source : The Hindu Date : 13.06.2009

Rs. 614 crores to be spent on water supply

Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa government on Friday admitted that people faced drinking water problem in towns like Berhampur, Khurda, Bhawanipatna, Bargarh and Talcher during the summer season.

Replying to a query, Minister of State for Urban Development Badri Narayan Patra said Rs. 614.44 crores would be spent on drinking water supply in at least 24 towns under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) and Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Focusing on drinking water problem prevailing in Berhampur, Mr. Patra said at present the city had a population of 3,60,000 and 35 million litre of drinking water was being supplied to different colonies.

“A project envisaging an expenditure of Rs. 527.95 lakhs has already got Union government’s nod. Upon completion, a 20 million litre capacity water treatment plant would be constructed at Dakshinapur reservoir. Work on the project would commence once tenders will be finalised,” the Minister said.

In the second phase, Rs. 32 crores was planned to be spent on laying pipelines in Berhampur city under UIDSSMT programme, he said.

Mr. Patra said new areas of the city would be covered under piped drinking water supply and outdated supply pipes in old areas would be replaced with new pipelines for which a detailed project report was being prepared.

For permanent solution to drinking water problem, a feasibility report had been finalised, he said.