Drinking water concerns dominate Rayagada ZP meeting
In Short
Elected representatives and officials at the 83rd Rayagada Zilla Parishad meeting addressed critical concerns regarding healthcare staffing, mega drinking-water projects, school education, and tribal welfare management.
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Drinking water concerns dominate Rayagada ZP meeting
Rayagada: The 83rd Rayagada Zilla Parishad meeting reviewed basic services, as elected representatives questioned the proposed mega drinking-water project, healthcare staffing shortages, school and hostel operations, and the DWO’s management of tribal welfare institutions.
The meeting, chaired by Zilla Parishad Chairperson Saraswati Majhi at the Zilla Parishad conference hall, brought together district-level officials, MLAs and elected representatives to assess whether government schemes and infrastructure projects are actually translating into reliable services for people on the ground.
Major concerns raised during the deliberations included shortages of drinking water, inadequate healthcare, hospital vacancies, declining education, and poor hostel management. The District Welfare Department also faced scrutiny over its supervision of remote and tribal residential schools and hostels.
District Collector and Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Ashutosh Kulkarni, Rayagada MLA Kadraka Appala Swamy, Bissam Cuttack MLA Nilamadhab Hikaka, Gunupur MLA Satyajit Gamango, MP representative Durgaprasad Panda, Zilla Parishad members and other elected representatives attended the meeting. Chief Development Officer-cum-Executive Officer Akshaya Kumar Khemundu and officials from various departments were also present.
Drinking water emerged as one of the most pressing issues, with MLA representatives seeking clarity on the proposed mega drinking-water project and the extent to which it will address the recurring water crisis across Rayagada district. Questions centred on the progress of the project, its implementation timeline and whether the proposed infrastructure would provide dependable water supply to villages facing seasonal shortages and supply disruptions.
The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department was asked to respond to water shortages reported from different parts of the district. Representatives stressed that merely sanctioning large projects would not be sufficient unless the system ultimately delivers regular and safe drinking water to households.
The meeting also discussed the need for immediate interventions in areas facing shortages, including borewells and other local solutions wherever required. The larger question, however, was whether the mega project and existing rural water-supply infrastructure are being implemented quickly enough to provide a permanent solution.
Healthcare was another major area of concern, with the shortage of doctors and other medical personnel emerging as a critical issue. Elected representatives stressed that people in Rayagada, particularly those living in remote and hilly areas, should not be forced to travel outside the district simply because adequate doctors, specialists, emergency services or other facilities are unavailable locally. The meeting reviewed manpower requirements in health institutions and called for vacancies to be filled according to the actual workload and population needs of the district.
During a detailed review, elected representatives questioned the quality of government school education and efforts to boost exam scores. Officials stated that additional academic support, such as daily extra classes from 4 pm to 5 pm, is being provided to increase the number of top-tier grades (A1 and A2) on Board examinations.
The meeting also evaluated the overall school environment, focusing on drinking water, mid-day meals, CCTV installation, hostel security, parent-teacher engagement, and the need for adequate wardens in boys’ hostels.
