Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on June 6, 2020, complimented Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh for taking steps to provide tap connections to all rural households by March, 2020. In his letter,Shekhawat thanked the Chief Minister for showing his commitment towards the ethos of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). He expressed optimism that the State will not only provide remaining households with tap connections, but potable water service delivery in adequate quantity of prescribed quality on regular and long-term basis will be ensured to all households as envisaged under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Shekhawat stressed that funds to the State is provided by Government of India based on output in terms of number of FHTCs provided and utilisation of funds. To that effect in 2019-20, Punjab was allocated and provided Rs 227.46 Crore as Central share of which the State could utilise only Rs 73.27 Crore. With opening balance of Rs 257 Crore along with allocation of Rs. 362.79 Crore in 2020-21, Punjab has assured availability of Rs 619.89 Crore Central fund. With State’s matching share, Rs. 1,239.78 Crore will be available under Jal Jeevan Mission to provide tap connections to families in rural areas of Punjab in 2020-21, the Minister added, according to a PIB release.
The Union Minister requested the State to expedite the planning and implementation to ensure that every household is provided with tap connections by March, 2022. He impressed upon the CM to focus on retrofitting/ augmentation of existing water supply systems in villages to provide household tap connections to the remaining households mostly belonging to poorer section of the society. He urged the CM to provide remaining households with tap connections in next 4–6 months in a ‘campaign mode’ to provide 14 lakh tap connections by taking up augmentation and retrofitting of such schemes and these villages can become ‘Har Ghar Jal Gaon’. While planning, priority should be given on saturating villages in water scarce areas and aspirational districts and villages covered under Sansad Adarsh Gramin Yojana.
Since, potable water supply to water quality-affected habitations is a top priority under JJM and in the light of interim order of National Green Tribunal, Shekhawat requested the CM to ensure piped water supply to all households in Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations before December, 2020. In case, potable water piped connections cannot be ensured before December, 2020, as an interim measure potable water @ 8-10 lpcd for drinking and cooking purpose is to be provided by installing community water purification plants (CWPP).