No One Should Remain Thirsty During Summers: Rajasthan Chief Minister
Jaipur: Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot has directed for smooth supply of drinking water and to speed up the repairing works of hand pumps and tube wells in the summer season. He asked to make an action plan to reduce the time in such areas where drinking water is supplied once in three days and ensure that people get water at least once in 48 hours.
Shri Gehlot on Thursday was reviewing the drinking water arrangements across the state through video conference. He said, “The demand for water will increase in summers and the State Government’s priority is that people should get uninterrupted supply of drinking water. We will make all possible efforts that no one remains thirsty in this summer season.”
Be Prepared To Supply Drinking Water Through Tankers
Chief Minister has asked to ensure supply of quality drinking water and be prepared to supply drinking water through tankers in case of demand. He has asked to give approval for hand pump and tube well wherever required and complete the repairing works on time. He stressed on water conservation along with water harvesting.
Chief Minister said that large number of labourers has become unemployed during lockdown. Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Water Resources and Energy Department should search possibilities to give work to these labourers under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in their projects.
Weekly Review Meeting Should Be Held At The Department Level
Shri Gehlot directed the District Collector and PHED principal secretary to hold weekly review meeting and monthly review at state level under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary. He asked to redress the complaints pertaining to drinking water on time. He also directed to ensure electricity supply by repairing the electricity supply lines that have been damaged recently in the dust storm. Besides, he directed to install RO (reverse osmosis) plants as per requirement by identifying places.
Collectors Authorised For Contingent Approval Of Rs 50 Lakh
PHED Minister Dr B.D. Kalla during the video conference said that the State Government approving the contingency plan of Rs 65 crore in the month of February, has authorised all district collectors for contingent approval of Rs 50 lakhs. Special directions have been given for transportation of drinking water under SDRF in four scarcity-hit districts including Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur and Hanumangarh. He said that efforts are being made to complete all schemes on time that are approved under Jal Jeevan Mission.
PHED principal secretary Shri Rajesh Yadav gave presentation on the action plan prepared for smooth supply of drinking water and the situation of water distribution in urban and rural areas. He said that the work of digging new tube well, changing the damaged pipeline and non-functional pump set is being done on the recommendation of district collector. He said at present drinking water is being transported daily through 1962 tanker trips in 27 cities, whereas 640 tanker trips daily in 757 villages and hamlets, which could be increased asper the
requirement. He said that 16,610 hand pumps were repaired in the month of April, while 2229 solar based defluoridation plants have been set up at fluoride affected villages and hamlets. He said Rs 295.50 crore has been approved in the month of March for Prithviraj Nagar Scheme in Jaipur. Population of more than 2 lakh will be benefited with this scheme.
Punjab Renovates Sirhind Feeder
Water Resources principal secretary Shri Naveen Mahajan said that the Punjab Government had shown positive attitude on few of the main points that were discussed with them. Punjab for the first time in 70 years has renovated canals in 20km area of Sirhind Feeder. Some renovation work was started in Rajasthan area of the feeder, but could not take place due to lockdown. He said that to stop polluted water coming from Punjab, the Punjab government has started the work by making an action plan, which will redress the problem of contaminated water coming into the canals in Sriganganagar.
Chief Secretary Shri D.B. Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Shri Niranjan Arya, Principal Secretary Energy Shri Ajitabh Sharma and other officers were present in the video conference.