The remaining required fund should be released soon for drinking water schemes wherein 90 per cent of the work has been done. The State potable water Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani said this while chairing a meeting to review schemes of the Peyjal Nigam, Jal Sansthan and Swajal here on Friday.
The Minister directed the potable water additional secretary Arjun Singh to release Rs 15 crore for the Anwlaghat potable water scheme along with the fund needed for the Didihat potable water scheme. Seeking information about the present status of the Bhairavgadhi potable water scheme, the minister directed officials to expedite construction of potable water scheme. Naithani directed that the detailed project report of Rikhanikhal pumping scheme in Pauri district be prepared soon in addition to which DPRs for various drinking water schemes which should be submitted for approval without delay. Reviewing the status of Namami Gange programme, the minister said that the Rs five crore grant in state contribution should be released soon.
The Central grant of Rs seven crore under Namami Gange programme has already been released. Regarding water linkage in schools, the Jal Sansthan chief general manager SK Gupta informed that under the national rural drinking water programme, proposal for water linkage in 452 schools has been approved out of which drinking water facility has been provided in 411 schools. Stressing on the importance of this drinking water programme, the minister said that officials should ensure that no school is left without potable water facility.
He directed the drinking water additional secretary to release the fund required for this programme. Stating that the fund approved for repairing the drinking water schemes damaged in disaster as very less, Naithani had a telephonic conversation with chief secretary Shatrughna Singh asking him to facilitate release of maximum possible funds for the execution of Jal Sansthan and Peyjal Nigam work proposals. The 106 potable water schemes completed by the Peyjal Nigam should be transferred to the Jal Sansthan, he said, while directing the Jal Sansthan officials to conduct a joint inspection of the schemes within 10 days and acquire the same.