The Chhattisgarh government has so far provided free tap water connections to the houses of about 90,000 poor families under the ‘Bhagirathi Tap Water Scheme’, officials said on Friday.
Highest connections of 21,849 have been provided in Durg district. The government has sanctioned Rs 71.32 crore to all the 143 civic bodies in the State.
The government has set a target to provide free tap water connections to 147,655 houses in these civic bodies area by the end of March 2015. The civic bodies have been given monthly target to carry out the work. The allocation of funds is being provided by the State Urban Development Agency.
The State government has also directed the officers of civic bodies to hold special camps in the slums and try to provide more and more tap water connections to the poor people under the scheme.
As per the provision, a beneficiary has to pay a monthly water tax of Rs 60. The ‘Bhagirathi Tap Water Scheme’ is under implementation in the State since August 2009.