Puri: With the inauguration of the ‘Sujal Drink From Tap Water Mission’ programme on Monday by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Puri has become the first city in India to achieve citywide 24x7 ‘drink from tap’ water.
Talking via video-conferencing Naveen Patnaik had dedicated the ‘Sujal’ water supply system to the glory of Lord Jagannath and the people of Puri.
“Such a development is the step towards or making Puri a world class heritage city. Puri residents, tourists and pilgrims alike can now drink water from tap across the city be it at home or across the newly-established water fountains. It has been my dream to provide piped drinking water to every household in Odisha,” said Patnaik adding that by March 2022 all 114 urban centres in Odisha will have piped drinking water.
Notably, the initiative will benefit over 2.5 lakh people of the pilgrim town of Odisha and is launched with partnership of women self-help groups (SHG). Designated as Jalsaathis, these women SHG have been hired as a key community link between public and the government and is also a part of women empowerment program in Odisha.
It is pertinent to mention that USA, England, Japan and Singapore have piped drinking water system and Puri is the first city from India to have the same.
