Bhubaneswar, Nov 2 : Odisha, the only state in the country, has implemented a hundred percent pipe water supply in 85 urban areas of the state, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said.

Inaugurating a state level capacity building programme for empowering Jalasathis here, Patnaik said so far 740 Jalasathis are managing water supply to 8.40 lakh consumers and have collected Rs 67 crore towards water tax.

He said there has been significant improvement in metre reading, water tax collection and disconnection of illegal water connection due to the efforts of Jalasathis

The Chief Minister said keeping in view the success of Jalasathi programme , the government has decided to entrust the Mission Shakti to collect property tax.This step, he claimed, would help in increasing the revenue collection in urban areas , empower the members of Mission Shakti and help in their economic growth..

The Odisha government has entrusted the members of Mission Shakti and third gender with the responsibility of supplying drinking water and maintaining water treatment plants in urban areas after imparting them training.

They are taking meter readings, testing water quality , giving new water connections and disconnecting illegal connections.

The Chief Minister announced to provide bi-cycle to Jalasathis for their easy communication.

Started three years back, the Jalasathis are successfully managing the drinking water supply in
urban areas across the state.

Patnaik said the drink from tap and the Jalasathi programme has been recognised at the national level and a decision has been taken to implement it in all states under Amrut 2.0 scheme.

Programs like Jagga Mission and Drink from Tap have become a success story for the urban areas of the state. Like Jalasathi, it could not have achieved success without community partnership, the Chief minister said.