Kendrapada: Of 88.65 lakh rural households in the state, provision for tap water connections is available to 68.45 lakh (77.21%) rural households as of Jan 28, said minister of state for Jal Shakti, V Somanna on Monday in Rajya Sabha.Responding to Muzibulla Khan’s question, Somanna said various initiatives taken by the state govt to ensure drinking water access in KBK districts, including mega piped water supply projects, village schemes and solar-powered water systems for difficult terrain areas. In areas facing difficult terrain and accessibility issues, solar-based water supply projects have been specifically sanctioned.As informed by the department of water resources, river development & Ganga rejuvenation (DoWR, RD&GR), eight irrigation projects have been prioritised under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) programme. These include Upper Indravati, Rukura-Tribal, RET Irrigation and Telengiri among others. The central govt has provided substantial financial support, with Rs 7,712.07 crore released under JJM from 2019-20 to 2024-25, the minister added.“Under JJM, Rs 7,712.07 crore has been released to the state from 2019-20 to 2024-25. Additionally, Rs 1, 208.86 crore has been allocated for PMKSY-AIBP projects, while Rs 131.96 crore was provided under CADWM,” Somanna said.Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) prepared a Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater-2020, proposing about 22,000 structures in Odisha. The CGWB regularly undertakes groundwater level and quality monitoring and conducts annual assessments of dynamic groundwater resources to support scientific planning and sustainable groundwater management, including in Odisha, added the minister.
