Karnataka Team Visits Odisha to Learn about ‘Drink from Tap Mission’ Success Story

Bhubaneswar: A team from the Karnataka Government visited Odisha to learn about the success story of ‘Drinking from Tap Mission’ and replicate the same model in their State.

The 20-member team led by Dr. Ajay Nagabhushana, Secretary, Urban Development and K.P.Mohan Raj, MD, Karnataka Urban Water Supply & Drainage Board, visited the State recently to learn from the success story of Drink from Tap 24×7 water supply in Odisha.

The delegation visited Bhubaneswar and Puri and interacted with the Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO) team and Jal Sathis about the various aspects of the Mission.

The visit and training of the Karnataka team was coordinated by the Odisha Water Academy (OWA).

The Karnataka delegates were highly inspired to replicate the Odisha Mode in their State, said the Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha.

Odisha has become a role model in the country in implementing 24×7 safe and quality water to every house in urban areas under the ‘Drink from the Tap’ Mission.

Puri has become the first city in the country to have a 24×7 drink-from-tap facility when Chief Minister Naveen launched the Mission in the pilgrim city last year.

Earlier, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has highly appreciated the Drink from Tap Mission’ of Odisha.

It is estimated that over 500/0 country’s population will live in urban areas by 2050. lt is a huge challenging task to provide safe and continuous water supply with required quantity and acceptable quality to the urban population. To meet this challenge, some cities are taking efforts towards converting their existing intermittent water supply system into continuous 24X7 water supply system to improve service levels. Puri city has taken the lead and has implemented 24×7 water supply for the entire city under the “Drink from Tap Mission”.

This project has ensured safe & continuous water supply at the consumer tap that can be directly used for drinking and cooking purposes without any need for further treatment”, mentioned Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) in its case study “Drink from Tap Mission in Puri City: A Case Study of 24×7 Water Supply Project”.