Chief Minister Raman Singh on Saturday instructed the top Government officers to take stern action against mafia who are exploiting sand from the anicuts on the rivers-canals.
Singh was speaking at the review meeting of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department at his official residence. He added that reports had been received stating that the sand mafia opens the anicuts’ gates and allows the waters to go waste and is transporting sand illegally.
“The villagers living nearby do not get drinking water and water for irrigation facilities. The district administration should take stern steps to bring the situation back under control,’’ Singh asked officers at the review meet.
Chief Minister expressed his deep concern over the depleting water-table in Bemetara district and instructed the concerned department officials to augment water supply in the region.
A master plan should be prepared for water shortage districts-Mungeli, Raipur, Mahasamund, Balodabazar-Batapara-for drinking water provision and exit facilities. Singh instructed the Public Health Engineering department Secretary Sahela Nigar to tour the five districts personally and chalk out a strategy to meet the contingency.
Singh stated that water-deficient villages should be ear-marked so that plans can be prepared to meet the water shortage in future. Solar pumps and water tanks can be installed for drinking water and exit of water facilities. The maintenance also will be easy.
He called upon the senior officers to tour the water-deficient districts and villages and after consultations with the experts prepare a blue print in one month.
He also reviewed the rural community water projects and urban ‘Nal-Jal’ schemes.
Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Aman Kumar Singh, Public Relations Department Secretary Santosh Misra, Chief Minister's Joint Secretary Rajat Kumar, Urban Administration Department Special Secretary Rohit Yadav and Director of Public Relations Department Rajesh Sukumar Toppo and several senior officers were also present.