Odisha cabinet approves pipe drinking water projects Rs 1,287 cr, SEBC new List

January 21, 2023January 21, 2023 MTIMES

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday approved three tenders worth Rs 1,287 crore for implementation of mega pipeline water supply projects in Malkangiri, Nayagarh and Jajpur districts.

Briefing the media about the cabinet’s decisions, Development Commissioner P. K. Jena said that providing safe drinking water to people living in rural areas is one of the priority areas of the state government. The Odisha government has taken a decision to implement nine mega piped water supply projects to ensure safe drinking water in three districts from Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) funding, he said.

The Odisha cabinet approved the lowest bid of Rs 639.26 crore for implementation of four projects in Malkangiri district. 3.13 lakh people from 453 villages under 61 GPs from four blocks of Malkangiri district will benefit from the implementation of the projects.

Similarly, the government has taken a decision to implement three more mega pipeline water supply projects in Nayagarh district at a cost of Rs 393.93 crore. This project will provide safe drinking water to 1.94 million people of 619 villages under 42 GPs from three blocks of the district, Jena said.

Another tender of Rs 254.66 crore has been approved by the Odisha government for implementation of two water supply projects in Jajpur district. Around 2.50 million people from 250 villages under 49 GP districts of Korei and Bari blocks will benefit from this, he said.

All work on drinking water projects is to be completed within 24 months. Further, the Odisha government has also taken a decision to construct a high-level bridge over the Subarnarekha river in Balasore district under the state plan in 2022-23. The Rs 101.66 crore bridge project is to be completed within three years.

The Odisha Cabinet also decided to amend the Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (OSCBC) Act, 1993 to include 22 castes in the list of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC).

Also, Odisha Cabinet approved a proposal to allocate 2 acres of land in favor of Bagchi-Sri Shankar Cancer Care Center and Research Institute (BSSCCRI) for construction of a rest house to accommodate cancer patients.