BHUBANESWAR: The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), the nodal agency for supply of piped water, has miserably failed to execute water supply projects in time in the City.
In 2000, the Department initiated measures to supply piped water to residential areas covering Khandagiri, Dharma Vihar, Jagamara, Gandamunda, Talabania, Pokhariput, Lingaraj Vihar and Bhimtangi from the water treatment plant at Ghatikia.
As per the programme, 9,200-metre pipeline, needed to link five main water tanks, was to be constructed at Dharma Vihar, Gandamunda, BDA Phase-I, Lingaraj Vihar and Bhimtangi. However, only 650- metre pipeline has been drawn and the private agency, executing the project, is facing numerous problems due to lack of Government support.
The work for laying water pipeline underground started on December 20, 2011, and the agency, executing the project, is to complete the work by April 19. Taking the pace at which the work is progressing it is feared that it may not be completed before May.
Sources in the private agency said obtaining clearance from different Government agencies takes a lot of time. While the National Highway Authority of India has granted permission for digging a portion of NH-5 to lay pipeline, necessary clearances from Public Works Department, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Forest Department are still awaited.
Initially, the project was delayed due to lack of budgetary support. Now, the pipe-laying work is hanging fire due to lack of coordination among Government agencies. This needs to be addressed by convening a meeting of senior officials of departments concerned and the BMC, the sources said.
Around 225 million litre of piped water is supplied to Bhubaneswar every day to cater to a population of around 10 lakh while the demand is much more.
At present, a portion of Dharma Vihar and Lingaraj Vihar is getting piped water.
The three major water treatment plants in the City have the capacity to supply water to all the areas, claimed a senior PHED officer and added pipelines need to be laid in all areas.
While Bhubaneswar Water Works at Palasuni functions round-the-clock, Mundali plant runs for 12 hours and the treatment plant at Samantarapur runs for 16 hours. The dependence on groundwater is minimal at this juncture with PHED resorting to groundwater only at the time of power failure.