Bhubaneswar, Apr 29: The BJD government failed to provide drinking water to the people of the State, alleged the BJP at a Press conference here today.

"Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ruled Odisha for 25 years, which accounts for 10 thousand days. However, 40 percent of families do not have access to drinking water. The Chief Minister should clarify as to why water should not be supplied to the people of Odisha," demanded BJP leader Golak Mohapatra.

Mohapatra said water could not reach 24 lakh houses out of 88 lakh houses in the state. The State government has been able to provide drinking water through pipes to only 35, 000 to 45,000 villages. Less than 50 percent of the water has reached areas like Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, and Kandhamal.

"Naveen Babu's gumasta says that the opposition is not seeing the development. We the BJP wanted to know if the dearth of drinking water after 25 years is development," asked Mohapatra.

Mohapatra went on to allege that dropouts in government schools are on the rise because there is no drinking water system in schools. The teachers send children 2 km away to fetch water.

"30 percent of schools do not have drinking water," he said.

The Central Government's 'Jal Jeevan Mission' and 'Har Ghar Nal Se Jal Yojana' have been converted into the 'Basuddha' by the BJD Government, he alleged.

Under Basuddha Yojana also, most places lack water and empty tanks, he alleged further.

Mohapatra said the Central government has given Rs 10,000 crore to Odisha for the supply of drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission. But the state government has spent Rs 834 crore only.

"Because the BJD government is embezzling Central funds by giving work to blacklisted companies, the project cannot be completed," he pointed out.

There is no water on either side of the Mahanadi basin. Anikats promised by the State government have also not been built.

Stating that Bhim Behera of Mohana block went to Kerala and worked for eight months to fetch water from a spring 2 km away from his house, Mohapatra said Bhim Behera is a more qualified chief ministerial candidate than Naveen Babu.

The BJP leader also targeted the State government on the spread of diarrhoea in Rourkela, jaundice in Sambalpur and cholera in Cuttack and Brahmapur due to contaminated drinking water.

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