Haryana Government has approved an outlay of Rs2792.5 crore for upgradation of water supply and sewerage works in urban and rural areas of the State.
The approval came at the first meeting of Water Supply and Sewerage Board for 2013-14 here, which was presided over by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
The Board decided to augment the drinking water facility in 850 villages during the current financial year and also approved 2,537 ongoing schemes and 542 new schemes of water supply and sewerage.
Hooda directed the officers to expedite the works being undertaken by the Public Health Engineering department and ensure that funds were fully utilised. For construction of houses under the Mahatma Gandhi Grameen Basti Yojna, Hooda directed that stand-posts to make water available. He also directed that administrative secretaries of Public Health Engineering department and Public Works (Building and Roads) department would resolve the issue of shifting of utilities due to widening of roads.
Reviewing the status of pending electricity connections, the Chief Minister directed the concerned officers to ensure early release of pending connection for water supply. He also sought details of such pending electricity connections. It was apprised at the meeting that 692 electricity connections had been released during 2012-13 and Power department would expedite the work concerning release of electricity connections to Public Health Engineering department.
Public Health Engineering Minister Kiran Choudhry said the department was trying to give best possible results so that adequate water supply could be ensured to the people.
It was apprised in the meeting that under the 13th Finance Commission, Rs75 crore had been provided for the improvement of water supply in the Shivalik region and Southern Haryana and Rs25 crore had been proposed for Mewat area. Apart from this, Rs393.71 crore would be spent under the Central assistance for rural water supply and Rs1.42 crore under Central assistance for Yamuna Action Plan phase-II. The State has Rs415 crore under economic stimulus package plan which is the highest in the country.