Odisha approves drinking water projects worth Rs 370.60 crore

The Odisha government today approved a package for five drinking water projects worth Rs 370.60 crore for supply to over two lakh population in fluoride-hit Nuapada district.
The proposal was cleared during the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The projects given to the lowest bidder Larsen & Toubro Ltd, Chennai, is expected to benefit people in Khariar, Boden, Nuapada and Komna blocks of Nuapada district, said Odisha Chief Secretary A P Padhi.
Padhi said, the projects, funded under RIDF assistance will be completed within 24 months.
He said as many as 905 habitations of Nuapada district are severely affected with fluoride contents in water.

The state government is committed to provide to all the habitations of the district with safe potable drinking water from different perennial surface sources like reservoirs and rivers existing in the district, he said.
In Odisha, the fluoride contamination in drinking water sources have been noticed in 1,658 habitations in 16 districts.
The Cabinet also approved 15 other proposals today.