Industry Odisha Bureau, May 3: The Government of Odisha has intensified its push towards universal 24×7 urban drinking water supply, with allocation of Rs 1500 crore to execute SUJALA scheme during the financial year 2026-27.
A comprehensive review of the annual action plan of the Public Health Engineering Organisation (PHEO) for 2026–27, 2027–28, and 2028–29 was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee here at Kharabela Bhawan yesterday.
As per official projections, the population across 86 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) is expected to reach approximately 31.5 lakh by 2026. At present, these urban areas receive a cumulative supply of about 452 MLD of drinking water.
Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to round-the-clock water supply, a phased roadmap is being implemented to achieve 24×7 service delivery across all ULBs.
During 2025–26, nine ULBs have already been covered under the initiative. Building on this progress, 38 ULBs each will be taken up during 2026–27 and 2027–28, significantly accelerating statewide coverage.
Under the flagship “SUJALA” programme, a total of 544 water supply projects have been sanctioned, of which 289 have been successfully completed, while the remaining projects are at various stages of execution.
As part of the rollover plan, 391 projects—including 102 new initiatives—will be undertaken in 2026–27 with an estimated investment of around Rs 1500 crore. Additionally, 92 projects are slated for execution in 2027–28 at a projected cost of Rs 978 crore.
These projects are strategically aligned to enhance infrastructure capacity, strengthen distribution networks, and ensure uninterrupted water supply to urban households.
Reviewing the progress, Padhee directed officials to expedite project implementation and ensure timely completion in line with the Government’s vision of universal 24×7 drinking water access. She emphasized the need for accelerated expenditure and optimal utilisation of allocated funds during 2026–27 to maintain implementation momentum.
Highlighting sustainability concerns, Padhee also stressed the importance of identifying and developing alternative water sources to discourage the use of treated drinking water for other purposes such as gardening, vehicle washing, and construction activities etc.
The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary Subhananda Mohapatra, FA-cum-Additional Secretary Sikha Biswal, Engineer-in-Chief, PHEO Bilas Behera, along with other senior officials.
