High-level meeting held to strengthen inter-departmental coordination for implementation of Mega Piped Water Supply (PWS) Projects in Odisha

Bhubaneswear:6/7/25:A high-level meeting to strengthen inter-departmental coordination for the implementation of Mega Piped Water Supply (PWS) Projects in Odisha was held on 4th July 2025 at LokSevaBhawan, Bhubaneswar, under the Chairpersonship of Smt. AnuGarg, IAS, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Odisha. Senior officers, including Secretaries, Engineer-in-Chiefs, and technical heads from the Departments of Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water, Rural Development, Works, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Energy, and representatives from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) participated in the deliberations.

The Committee reviewed the status of ongoing projects and emphasized that all departments must resolve pending implementation issues within a month. To support this, weekly or fortnightly joint reviews will be conducted, and a dedicated WhatsApp group of nodal officers has been created to enable real-time coordination. The Development Commissioner highlighted the importance of adopting modern technology to improve operations and maintenance (O&M). A robust digital platform is being developed to enable real-time monitoring of Mega PWS schemes. Initially, this platform will integrate SCADA systems installed in Mega Projects and will gradually expand to include Internet of Things (IoT) systems for smaller schemes.

To ensure effective field-level management, it was decided to establish Project Management Units at the district level for oversight of O&M activities. In parallel, Self-Help Group (SHG) members will be trained in water quality monitoring techniques, including the use of Field Testing Kits (FTKs), safe sampling, and real-time reporting through the Jal Jeevan Mission app.

Recognizing the need to shift from an infrastructure-centric approach to a service-delivery-oriented model, the Committee underscored the importance of institutional restructuring. The Department will study national best practices and prepare a proposal to realign its organizational structure for efficient, responsive, and sustainable rural water supply management.

To address recurring damages to pipeline infrastructure caused by civil works executed by other agencies, the Committee supported the Department’s proposal to issue a Government Resolution mandating prior excavation intimation through platforms like CBuD. It also recommended GIS-based mapping of pipeline assets to minimize risk and improve accountability.

The meeting concluded with a collective call for sustained and coordinated efforts across departments to ensure a universal, reliable, and safe drinking water supply to all rural households in Odisha.