CORAPUT: Only 70% of the work on the Mega Crore RS 316-Crore Drinking Water Supply project has been completed until the date even though it should be assigned in August 2020.
The work on the project began in April 2018 to ensure the supply of safe drinking water hours to around 2.75 lakh The villagers in 52 Panchayats under Jeypore, Borgetma and Kotpad Blocks.
“Because of postponing the opening of the forest, land alienation and job restrictions during locking, the work cannot be completed in the specified time.
We hope to complete the project in December 2021,” said Amarendra Padhi, executive engineer, rustic water supply and sanitation (RWSS), Corrap.
He said under the project, the surface water of the muran dam in the Borigumma block would be filtered and supplied to the villagers to drink replacing Borewell’s excavation for water.
The official source said when the soil surface was thinning with every year, the use of surface water would be very helpful in providing a safe pipe supply in rural areas.
“This project will be very helpful for the district considering its geographical location filled with terrain and hilly villages located in a distant area.
Sometimes it is difficult to take vehicles to dig Borewell to rural areas,” said Hare Krushna Rath, officers sub-division, RWSS , Jeypore.
“Under the new project pipes are placed in rural areas connected to the main project,” he added.