Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has said that his Government had set a target to make Uttarakhand open defection-free State by November 9. He said this while meeting the Secretary, Central Drinking Water and Sanitation Committee Parmeshwaran Ayyar on Friday evening in Dehradun.
Rawat asked Ayyar to provide Central financial assistance for the drinking water schemes that are completed up to 50 percent. He also asked for Central assistance for the damaged drinking water projects and for the schemes related to toilet construction.
Secretary Drinking Water, Secretary Finance and Principal Secretary Rural Development and labour have been instructed to immediately prepare working plans for the purpose of making the state free from the practice of open defecation.
CM further said that the disaster affected five districts - Uttarakashi, Rudraparyag, Chamoli, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh- would be granted money from Disaster Relief Fund. Besides, the registered labourers involved in building construction activities would be granted Rs 20000 to construct toilets from cess collected, CM further said.
The Secretary Finance has been directed to arrange the remaining fund along with dispatching its UC to Government of India on urgent basis so as to ensure that the Centre makes the fund available.
CM asked Ayyar to see to it that the drinking water schemes that had been transferred to Gram Panchayats would be provided with funds by the Centre in case they are damaged. He further explained that the maximum drinking water projects get damaged in the State due to mountainous nature of its geography, rainfall and flood. He stressed on the huge amount spent to restore them by way of impressing the central secretary the need of Centrally provided funds. He said, left to themselves, Gram Panchayats are unable to repair them, given the paucity of resources lying with them.
The Central Secretary disclosed that a central team would visit the State in the first week of October to provide technical assistance regarding the drinking water schemes operating in the State. Technical assistance for drinking water projects for implementation along with other suggestions and help would be provided by the team, he said. He said the Centre would provide the required funds and assistance for the drinking water schemes and ODF. He also appreciated the initiatives taken by the Uttarakhand Government on the matter of executing myriad drinking water projects across the State, saying that the Centre would extend full cooperation to the State on the matter.