The Orissa government tendered an unconditional apology in the high court here for being unable to comply with an order of the HC passed in May over providing drinking water facilities in anganwadi centers of the state.

The principal secretary in the state rural development department, S N Tripathy, in an affidavit filed in the HC yesterday informed that only 1,316 tube-wells could be dug by the stipulated deadline of June 30, this year.

The government attributed the onset of monsoon as the reason for not being able to meet the deadline and tendered an unconditional apology as the HC in its last order had warned of action against the erring officials.

Earlier, the HC after expressing displeasure over the issue had asked the government to ensure that drinking water facilities were available in all 8,000-odd anganwadi centres.

Passing the order on May 13, 2011, the HC had directed the state government to ensure that drinking water facilities were made available in all anganwadi centres of the state as quickly as possible.

It had also directed the government to go for e-tender and take the help of any agency to dig bore wells in anganwadi centers located in both government and private accommodations.

A division bench comprising of chief justice V Goplala Gowda and justice B N Mohapatra had passed the order on a PIL that is being adjudicated by the court for last four months.