20 more ULBs to be covered under DFT scheme

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BHUBANESWAR, Odisha: The Government of Odisha has decided to cover 20 more urban local bodies (ULBs) under its drink from tap (DFT) scheme, which aims to provide drinking water directly from the tap throughout the day.

The Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO) is the nodal agency for the implementation of DFT scheme in the state. WATCO will now also cover ULBs of Brajaraj Nagar, Belapahar, Berhampur, Gopalpur, Hinjilicut, Rourkela, Biramitrapur, Sundargarh, Rajgangnagar, Baripada, Keonjhar, Joda, Barbil, Karanjia, Champua, Udala, Rairangpur, Anandpur, Vyasnagar, Jharsuguda before December 2023.

Under the DFT scheme, Puri has become the first city that provides a 24×7 supply of drinking water directly from the tap to its people. The state government is aiming to provide functional household tap connections to all households by 2024.

According to the state government, out of a total of 85.66 lakh rural households, 23.25 lakh households have been covered under the DFT mission. All households of 2996 villages have been given access to safe drinking water, and 57 panchayats have been given the status of ‘Har Ghar Jal’, meaning all the households have been given the piped water connection. The state government has spent Rs 3800 crores in the last three years to provide piped water supply to all the urban households, while all 89 drinking water projects are being implemented.