Work on Water Supply Project to Take off.

The work of much awaited Integrated Rural Piped Water Supply (IRPWS) project for 22 water stressed villages in Rengali and Dhankauda blocks of the district will begin shortly. Though the project was announced before 2009 Assembly election, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid foundation stone for the water treatment plant at Padhanpali village under Dhankauda block on February 27.

Executive Engineer, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS), Sambalpur Motilal Tiwari said the tender for the project has already been finalised and the work will begin from March 15. The project cost is estimated at Rs. 15.51 crore and Sesa Sterlite Limited, Jharsuguda, Aditya Aluminium Private Limited, Sambalpur and Bhusan Power and Steel Limited, Sambalpur will provide funds for the project.

The water for the project will be drawn from Hirakud Dam Reservoir (HDR) and a water treatment plant with a capacity of five million litres per day (MLD) will be constructed at Padhanpali village, Tiwari said. Water will be supplied to the villages through public stand posts besides household connections. The 22 villages having a population of 30,366 will be covered under the project, Tiwari added.

Though Jharsuguda MLA Naba Kishore Das had mooted the plan to draw water from the HDR, Chairman of Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) Kishore Mohanty laid the foundation stone for the project at Rengali on February 26, 2009.

But even after six years, the project could not take off till Sambalpur Collector Balwant Singh initiated steps. In the Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) meeting held on February 22, 2011, it was resolved to undertake the project through RPDAC with financial support from Sesa Sterlite, Aditya Aluminium and Bhusan Power and Steel. While Sesa has deposited Rs 5.3 crore till date, Bhusan has deposited Rs five crore and Aditya Aluminium is yet to contribute. The approval for funding is pending at the company-end even though it has committed to it.

PIPED SUPPLY

Tender has been finalised and the work will begin from March 15

Project cost is estimated at Rs 15.51 crore

22 villages having a population of 30,366 will be covered.

The New Indian Express