Bhubaneswar, May 3: Additional Chief Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee chaired a comprehensive review of the Annual Action Plan of the Public Health Engineering Organisation (PHEO) for 2026–27, 2027–28, and 2028-29 at the Kharabela Bhawan here and directed officials to work proactively to achieve the universal coverage of 24x7 drinking water supply in urban areas.
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.
As part of Government’s commitment to round-the-clock water supply, a phased roadmap is being implemented to achieve 24x7 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 has 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 1,500 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 24x7 drinking water access. She emphasized the need for accelerated expenditure and optimal utilisation of allocated funds during 2026–27 to maintain implementation momentum.
The meeting was attended by H&UD Additional Secretary Subhananda Mohapatra, FA-cum-Additional Secretary Sikha Biswal, Engineer-in-Chief, PHEO Bilas Behera, along with other senior officials.
