Directs for permanent solution of drinking water problems in the next one year, asks for strict action against illegal plotting and illegal construction

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Sao reviews the work of Municipal Corporations and Municipalities in the day-long meeting

All municipal corporations have been instructed to clean major drains and drainage channels by May 31st, and to take necessary steps to prevent waterlogging during the rainy season.

The Executive Engineer of Dhamtari drinking water scheme has been suspended for delays and the contractor will be penalized.

Raipur. 20 April 2026. Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration and Development Minister Shri Arun Saw today reviewed the work of all the municipal corporations and municipalities of the state. In the day-long meeting held at the Circuit House in Civil Lines, Raipur, he expressed his displeasure over the problems of drinking water supply in the cities, illegal plotting and illegal construction and directed to take immediate steps to resolve them. Expressing strong displeasure over the delay in the work of the drinking water scheme in Dhamtari, he directed to suspend the executive engineer and impose penalty on the contractor.

In two separate review meetings of Municipal Corporations and Municipalities held today, Secretary of Urban Administration and Development Department Dr. Basavaraju S., Director Mr. R. Ekka and CEO of State Urban Development Agency (SUDA) Mr. Shashank Pandey, along with the Commissioners of all Municipal Corporations, Chief Municipal Officers of Municipalities, Senior Engineers and Joint Directors of all the five divisional regional offices of the Urban Administration Department were also present in the meeting.

In the review meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Saw instructed the officials of Municipal Corporations and Municipal Councils to prepare action plans as per the needs of the cities and work accordingly. He asked them to work actively and seriously to improve the system and image of the bodies. He said that the Municipal Corporations should do such work that the Municipal Councils of the state can take inspiration from it and the Municipal Councils should work in such a way that the Nagar Panchayats can get inspired. He told the engineers of the bodies that there should be no complaints regarding the quality of work. Pay special attention to ensure that all construction works are completed within the time limit.

Expressing displeasure and anger over the continuous complaints regarding drinking water supply, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Saw directed for its permanent solution in all the municipal corporations by next year. He said that work should not be done only for the purpose of spending the budget in the cities, but a permanent solution should be found to the problems. Strict action will be taken by fixing accountability on complaints of drinking water problem. He asked to complete the work of cleaning big drains and drainage in all the municipal corporations by 31st May and also to take necessary measures to prevent water logging during the rainy season. In the first week of June, the state level team will conduct physical inspection of the municipal corporations. If the work is not found satisfactory, action will be taken against the health officer and engineer.

In the meeting, Mr. Saw directed that the incomplete houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) be completed by September 2026. He asked that the construction of the unstarted houses be started within a month at any cost and that all the houses approved in March 2026 be started before the rainy season. He directed that the proposals of the beneficiaries who have completed the construction within the stipulated 18 months under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) 2.0 be sent to the department without delay, so that such beneficiaries can be provided an additional amount of Rs. 32,850 under the Chief Minister's House Entrance Samman Yojana.