Rayagada’s Water Supply Project delayed, villagers face tough summer

Rayagada, Ap 8: A large number of villagers in Rayagada district are bracing for another tough summer as construction of various mega drinking water supply projects continues to move at a snail’s pace.

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The year 2023 was expected to mark the completion of several major infrastructure projects in the district, including the crucial 600-crore Mega Water Supply Project. However, many of these projects remain incomplete, leaving residents in Rayagada grappling with an ongoing water crisis. As the summer season approaches, the demand for water has increased significantly, raising serious concerns about when clean, potable water will finally reach local households

The Mega Water Supply Project was intended to provide purified water directly to homes via tap connections by December 2023. However, despite the deadline having passed, only partial progress has been made, leaving the project unfinished. This has sparked widespread frustration among locals, particularly in rural areas, who are left wondering when they will have access to safe drinking water.

The project, which involves a significant financial investment from both the central and state governments, aims to ensure that every household in Rayagada district receives clean drinking water through a piped supply system. Despite the allocation of substantial funds — amounting to several hundred crores — the project has failed to meet its completion deadline. To speed up the work, external contractors were brought in, but delays persist, exacerbating the water crisis in the region.

The project is being implemented in phases across different parts of the district, with significant financial allocations made for specific areas. For example, Rs. 298 crore has been allocated for the Rayagada-Kashipur region, Rs. 105 crore for Kolonara-Ramanaguda, and Rs. 155 crore for Bishamakotak-Gunupur. The plan is to bring water from the Indravati Reservoir in Kalahandi to Kashipur, treat it at a new facility, and distribute it to local residents. However, despite these efforts, progress has been slow, and residents continue to face difficulties accessing clean water.

The ongoing delays have caused growing dissatisfaction among the people of Rayagada. With the original deadline long passed, many are now questioning when the government will fulfill its promise to provide reliable and consistent access to clean drinking water. As the water crisis deepens, locals are becoming increasingly impatient, demanding immediate action to resolve the issue.

The situation remains urgent, and there is a growing need for the authorities to address the delays and complete the project to ensure that every household in Rayagada has access to safe and reliable drinking water.