Odisha’s Water Race: 207 Projects, 26 Done, 181 to Go

Out of 207 mega drinking water supply projects launched by the Odisha state government, only 26 have been completed so far.

To accelerate progress, the government plans to expedite the remaining projects. Officials stated that over 50% of the work on 134 projects has been completed, while 47 projects remain in preliminary stages. Funded under schemes including the Jal Jeevan Mission, these projects were initiated during the previous BJD government before 2024.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg, during a review meeting on 13 January 2026, instructed officials to identify the causes of delays and ensure timely completion. Districts such as Rayagada, Mayurbhanj, and Sundargarh have the highest number of pending projects, with 15, 11, and 10 projects yet to be completed, respectively. CS Garg urged officials to prepare a definitive timeline for finishing the outstanding works.

The review also covered the progress of rural drinking water initiatives, including pipe water systems and solar-powered tube wells, highlighting the government’s focus on improving water access across the state.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.