Odisha Assembly in Turmoil: BJD-BJP Spar Over Drinking Water Debacle

The Odisha Legislative Assembly witnessed heated scenes on Tuesday as legislators from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) engaged in a sharp exchange of allegations over the state’s drinking water crisis during Question Hour.

The confrontation highlighted the growing political divide over the issue of water scarcity, particularly in rural areas across the state.

Heated Exchange During Question Hour

The controversy began when BJP legislator Durga Prasanna Nayak raised supplementary questions targeting the previous BJD government’s performance in ensuring access to safe drinking water.

Nayak criticised the BJD administration for installing only 26,000 tube wells during its 24-year tenure, questioning why the present government was taking time to bridge the gap in drinking water infrastructure.

Opposition Disrupts Minister’s Reply

When Rabi Narayan Naik rose to respond, BJD members staged a protest in the House, accusing the BJP government of inefficiency and failing to address the water crisis effectively.

The protests soon escalated into a loud confrontation, with BJP legislators strongly countering the opposition’s claims. The heated exchange disrupted proceedings for several minutes before the Speaker intervened with a stern warning to restore order.

Government Highlights Progress in Water Supply

Defending the government’s performance, Minister Rabi Narayan Naik outlined the administration’s targets to expand piped drinking water coverage across the state.

“We are committed to providing piped drinking water to every household by March 2027 through 207 mega projects,” the minister said.

He informed the House that as of March 5, piped water connections have been provided to 68,47,752 families, covering 77 percent of total households in the state.

Status of Ongoing Water Projects

According to the minister, 26 mega drinking water projects have already been completed, while another 28 projects are expected to be completed by the end of this month.

Naik also revealed that out of 44,531 villages in Odisha, 11,777 villages currently have functional drinking water schemes.

Minister Blames Previous Government’s Planning

Taking a dig at the previous BJD administration, the minister alleged that several detailed project reports (DPRs) prepared earlier were faulty, forcing authorities to relocate 18 intake wells.

He further stated that the state currently has 5,27,694 tube wells, highlighting the scale of existing groundwater infrastructure.

Water Scarcity Remains Key Political Issue

The confrontation in the Assembly once again underlined how drinking water supply has become a major political flashpoint in Odisha.

With rural water scarcity continuing to affect thousands of villages, the debate between the BJP government and the BJD opposition is expected to remain a central issue in the state’s political discourse.