CM dedicates water projectsfor rural Odisha

Bhubaneswar: As a number of places in the state are facing acute shortage of drinking water, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday inaugurated 100 rural drinking water projects from the secretariat.
The projects to be developed at a cost of Rs 72 crore would benefit 1.72 lakh people in 107 villages across 26 districts, official sources said.
"Today we are celebrating the birth anniversary of Madhusudan Das.I am happy that on this occasion, we have dedicated 100 rural pipe water supply projects in the service of the people," Naveen told mediapersons.
The CM also said drinking water has been the priority of his government. "We have targeted to ensure drinking water to all gram panchayats by 2017," he added.
Addressing the media, special relief commissioner P K Mohapatra said of total 954 water supply projects, the government has so far completed 347 projects.
On April 20, Naveen had dedicated 100 similar water supply projects for urban areas.