BHUBANESWAR, April 20:  As many as 100 drinking water projects, worth Rs 63 crore, were today launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to benefit people in 45 urban local bodies in Odisha. "The state government is committed to provide equitable, affordable, sustainable and safe water supply to all urban population with a special focus on urban poor," Patnaik said dedicating the projects to the people. Maintaining that the government is working towards providing 135 litre of water per person per day, Patnaik said piped water supply connection would be provided to all urban households including the slum areas. Keeping this in view, efforts need to be taken for augmentation of water resources covering the uncovered areas, improvement of transmission and distribution system and replacement of age-old pipe networks, he said. Simplification of procedure for providing drinking water supply connections done in December 2015 has resulted in increasing 68,000 new household connections benefiting about three lakh urban poor, the chief minister said. The Government would provide free domestic water connections to all urban poor and economically weaker households in the state by waiving the upfront connection of Rs 500 per connection, he said. Housing and Urban Development Department has identified 422 areas in 185 wards of 24 urban local bodies experiencing shortage of water during summer, the chief minister said, adding apart from providing water through tankers, efforts should be taken up to provide long term solutions. "I hope these projects will fulfil this essential need of the people in getting potable water and bring relief to people especially women," Patnaik said. -PTI