Chief Minister unveiled the foundation stone for the Nathuvawala drinking water scheme to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 22.48 crore at Nathuvawala in Dehradun on Sunday. The scheme is to be executed under the World Bank funded Uttarakhand potable water programme for semi-urban areas.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Rawat said that work on the scheme will be complete by December 2020. Once functional, the scheme will provide drinking water supply for 16 hours daily. Water supplied through this scheme can be lifted up to 40 feet without any pump. He said that there was semi-urban drinking water scheme worth about Rs 1,000 crore for the whole State. During the past two years, work on such schemes costing more than Rs 60 crore had been started in Balawala, Badripur, Natthanpur and Nawada areas with work on schemes costing Rs 36 crore having been completed. Rawat said that the Nathuvawala scheme will provide water till 2050. Budgetary provision has also been made for the Saung dam. After construction of the dam, this entire area will get recharged. After construction of the Saung dam, water for the Rispana river will be arranged, he said, while stressing that the State Government is undertaking various measures for revival of rivers.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann ki Baat, Rawat said that the PM had talked about conservation of water, e-payment, population control, freedom from malnutrition and anti-polythene campaign. The contribution of every citizen is important in effectively addressing these issues, he said. The cooperation of the public is vital in taking the nation ahead on the path of happiness and cleanliness as envisioned by the PM.
Speaking on the occasion, Dehradun mayor Sunil Uniyal ‘Gama’ requested the public to assist the Government in freeing the State of polythene.