In compliance with the directions of the Centre, Haryana Public Health Engineering Department and Health Department have prepared a joint action plan under which the tubewell based drinking water sources will be checked for quality in each village of the State.
The water samples will be checked especially for the presence of quantity of Arsenic and Fluorides, said Haryana Public Health Engineering Minister, Ghanshyam Saraf while addressing a press conference on Thursday.
He said that the testing is expected to be completed by November 30 and Fluorides by September 30. During testing, the sources found affected with Arsenic and Fluorides will be closed and alternate safe drinking water sources will be provided.
The Minister said that officers of the Department have been directed to install taps on water connections to stop wastage of water. 13,306 complaints have been received through Shikayat Nivaran Kendra out of which 12381 complaints have been disposed off and 925 complaints are under process.
Also, a special campaign would be launched in the state for cleaning of filters at all canal based water works. During 2015-16, the Department has plan budget of rs 1202 crore and non-plan budget of rs 1541.55 crore. Till date, an expenditure of Rs 627.82 crore has been made. With this budget, drinking water facilities would be improved in 498 villages and water supply and sewerage facilities would be improved in urban areas and 23 Sewage Treatment Plants would be set up, said he.
The Minister said that the Department has launched a special campaign for providing individual drinking water connections in the rural households and out of 30.45 lakh households, 16.68 lakh households have been provided with drinking water connections.
Till now, this campaign has been launched in 45 towns under which 3,19,469 households have been surveyed and 48520 drinking water connections and 72285 connections of sewerage have been provided. As a result of this campaign, the department has received revenue of Rs 12.11 crore, he said.
Saraf added that with a view to bring transparency in the functioning of the Department and provide quality services, the State Government has implemented e-tendering for works costing Rs two lakh or more.