The Uttarakhand government would install 500 water ATMs on the Char Dham Yatra route to provide good quality drinking water to the pilgrims. These ATMs would have displays indicating the water quality.

An order regarding this was given by the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami during a review meeting with the officers of the Drinking Water department at the state secretariat here on Wednesday. He directed the officers of the department to ensure proper supply of water during the Yatra. The CM said that the lakhs of pilgrims visit the Char Dham and to provide better facilities to them is the responsibility of the state. He also directed the officials to ensure that adequate water is available in the Sulabh toilets along the Yatra route.

In the meeting the CM also directed that a work plan to revive the water sources should be made and steps for rain water harvesting in the state should be taken. He said that conservation of water should be brought into the work culture and everyone should work towards it. Dhami said that the departments which organize the plantation drives would be held responsible for safety and care of the plants. Similarly he said that the responsibility for maintenance of the hand pumps should also be fixed.

The CM said that the Jal Jivan Mission is the dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and directed the officials to expedite the works under the project in the state. He said that pure drinking water should be available in the taps which have been installed under Jal Jivan Mission. On a stern note the CM said that there should be no shortage of water in any part of the state during the summer season. He said that two water tankers for every district should be provided for the purpose. He added that solving the problem of drinking water during summers is a major challenge for the government.

The secretary of the department Nitesh Jha said that Uttarakhand is on sixth position in the country in the implementation of Jal Jivan Mission. He said schools and Anganwadi centers have been covered 100 per cent under the mission. Jha said that 62 per cent connections have been given under Jal Jivan Mission (Rural) in the state. He said that 244 out of 280 NABARD funded schemes have been completed and the remaining 36 would be completed in this year. The secretary added that 19 out of 23 projects of Namami Gange have been completed. Jha said that the Government Orders (GO) for 293 out of 336 announcements made by CM concerned with the department have been released.

The meeting was attended by chief secretary S S Sandhu, additional Chief Secretary Anand Vardhan, additional secretary Nitin Bhadauria, Meharban Singh Bisht, Udairaj and others.