The State Government would soon finalise a policy to provide metered
water supply to all urban homes within the next 10 years. The draft
legislation of the policy will be finalised within a month and put up
before the Cabinet for its approval in May. This was decided at a high
level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the
secretariat here on Monday.
The new policy requires the consumers
to avail the facility through metered water connections and pay
accordingly like the other monthly utility bills. As per the plan, 50
per cent of urban areas will be covered in the next five years while the
rest will be connected in the following five years.
Now residents
of only 21 urban areas in the State are getting the national average
per day per capita water of 135 litres while people of 49 urban centres
are receiving water much below the average. Census 2011 figures show
that compared to 21.1 per cent people in 2001, around 18.5 pc has to
travel beyond 100 metres for drinking water in urban areas.
The
Chief Minister directed the Urban Development department to provide
drinking water to all scarcity areas and places which are not easily
accessible.
Besides, he has also asked the officials to ensure
repair of all the defunct tube wells and damaged pipelines. Official
sources said water is being supplied through 286 tankers at present and
the number will be raised. Besides, 25,019 tube wells are in working
condition and 4,000 new ones will be installed by June. Control rooms
have also been opened to receive complaints regarding drinking water and
take immediate steps.
Out of the 509 pipe water projects, 359
have been completed. Besides, 220 out of the 412 projects for schools
and anganwadi centres have been completed.
Water policy
* Metered water supply to all urban homes within the next ten years.
* Consumers can avail the facility through metered water connections and pay, like other monthly utility bills.
* To begin with, 50 pc urban households will be covered in the next 5 years.
*
The Chief Minister directed the urban development department to ensure
drinking water to all scarcity areas and places which are not easily
accessible.
