The Odisha state government has instructed all district collectors to ensure that rural households in their jurisdictions have access to safe drinking water. This directive came after Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja reviewed the status of rural drinking water projects during a high-level meeting held on 30 May.

The importance of timely field visits by Collectors and district-level officers to monitor and expedite project execution was highlighted. Challenges such as obtaining electricity connections and departmental clearances have to be resolved through regular coordination meetings between Collectors and officials of the Panchayati Raj and Rural Development departments.
 
The state has sanctioned 18,677 single village piped water supply schemes (SVPWSS), with 12,289 currently in various stages of completion. The government aims to complete 238 SVPWSS by June 2025, and 752 by December 2025. Additionally, 16 mega drinking water supply schemes are nearing completion, while 191 are under construction, with a target completion date of March 2027.

The government has also approved 4,855 solar-based drinking water schemes, of which 3,652 are under implementation. The Chief Secretary stated, “The target of the state government is to provide piped water supply to 3,652 villages through solar-powered schemes by September 2025.”