Jaibali Water project likely to be delayed in Odisha's Berhampur

Berhampur: The commissioning of the Rs 581 crore Janibili mega water supply project here is likely to be delayed as the Centre is yet to give permission to lay pipelines along the national highway.

The project aims at solving the drinking water problem of this south Odisha city till 2045 and also supply water to 52 villages in Aska, Hinjili, Shergada and Kukudakhandi blocks in Ganjam district. Around 8.51 lakh people - 6.75 lakh in urban areas and 1.76 lakh in rural areas - would be benefited from it, officials said.

The project envisages drawing water from the Janibili diversion wire, 55 km from here, through underground pipes and setting up a 60 million litre per day (mld) capacity treatment plant at Jagadalapur on the outskirts of the city.

It includes construction of 17 and 10 underground and overhead tanks respectively and laying of 232-km new pipelines in uncovered areas in the city and adjoining areas, they said.

The project was started on November 30 last year with chief minister Naveen Patnaik in attendance. The project was scheduled to be completed in two years.

The company has already procured pipes to lay on the national highway. As the union ministry of road transport and highways has not given its permission, the pipe laying work has not been done, they said.

Superintending Engineer (design), Hadibandhu Behera, who is also in-charge of the project, said the state government had taken up the matter with the ministry. Pipes would be laid on a 48-km stretch on NH-59.

"We have already got the permission for laying pipelines from the rural develpment and water resources departments," Behera said.
The construction of the treatment plant at Jagadalpur is going on in full swing, he added.