The Union Government has made up its mind to amend the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), which aimed at providing potable drinking water to the rural inhabitants. Once this amendment is through, this will adversely affect the ongoing drinking water supply schemes in more than 9 thousand villages of the state. The Punjab state will strongly opposed this move of the Union Government.It was disclosed by Mrs. Razia Sulatan Water Supply and Sanitation Minister in a press communiqué released here today. She said that with view to chalk out futuristic strategy of the State, a high level meeting of Water Supply Sanitation Department was held today. Divulging the detail she said that under National Rural Drinking Water Programme, funds are being provided by the Union Government to the States to supply drinking water to the rural areas. She said that to run this scheme, funds at the ratio of 50:50 percent are being provided by Union Government and concerned State Government. She said that the Punjab Government is ready to provide its share of 50 percent but it appears that Union Government is shying away to provide its share.
She said that Union Government as per proposed amendment of Union Government, fund will now only be provided to such villages where consumption of drinking water is below 40 liter per capita per day (LPCD). She said that if proposed amendment is effective, it will adversely affect the water supply scheme in more than 9 thousand villages of the state. These schemes may be halted midway because the consumption of drinking water is more than 40 liter per capita per day (LPCD).She further said, “Punjab has borrowed whooping money from World Bank and NABARD to supply drinking water to the villages and if we have been successful in providing drinking water in more than 9 thousand villages, which is more than 40 liter per capita per day, we should not be deprive off the union government’s funds.” She said that the Union Government has convened the meeting on June 14 to take opinion of the concerned states on its proposed move to amend National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). She said that she will personally attend this meeting and strongly oppose the Union Government move to amend National Rural Drinking Water Programme.