Haryana Chief Secretary DS Dhesi on Monday directed Public Health Engineering and Irrigation Departments to immediately take steps for supply of drinking water in those areas where there is shortage of stored water and also in areas where the supply of drinking water is less in the State.
Dhesi presided over the first meeting of the task force and sub-committee for supply of drinking water here in the State.
The Chief Secretary said that special monitoring of drinking water supply would be carried out in Mewat, Bhiwani, Rewari and Narnaul, where there is a shortage of drinking water.
As per the reports, the availability and demand of potable water in Haryana show water shortage in nine districts including Sonipat, Jind, Sirsa, Hisar, Bhiwani, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Mahendragarh and Rewari districts.
last week, Haryana Public Health Engineering Minister Ghanshyam Saraf had also directed the officers concerned to arrange adequate drinking water supply in all villages and towns of the State.
On the other hand, the opposition has blamed the acute shortage of water, both for drinking and irrigation purposes, on the BJP Government, led by Manohar lal Khattar.
The Opposition has claimed that while the overall demand in Haryana for water is 2,111.37 million litres per day (MlD), including 1,081.66 MlD from the urban side, the authorities have been able to ensure availability of only 1,913.22 MlD, including 968.86 MlD in the urban areas and the remaining 944.36 MlD in the rural areas.
Facing acute shortage of water this season, Haryana Government is also in process of bringing in a law to take strict action against wastage of water. As per the bill, the water wastage is likely to invite atleast three months imprisonment and a penalty of Rs2,000 in the State.