To ensure the remodeling 17255 village water ponds across the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has given nod for posing a comprehensive proposal to the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, GoI for seeking funds to the tune of Rs.762 crore from Centre’s flexi funds of Rs.9000 crore under 12th five year plan.Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the CMO said that Mr. Badal cleared the file in this regard on Wednesday evening.
It may be recalled that the Union government under the guidelines of this flexi fund, has sought proposals from different states for the implementation of solid and liquid based management in villages, under which 70% of the entire project cost would be borne by the Centre and the balance 30% to be shared by the state. Accordingly, the Centre was likely to sanction Rs.533 crore as its 70% share of the total project cost amounting to Rs.762 crore and the remaining Rs.129 crore would be spent by Punjab government.
The scheme was aimed to tackle the menace of these rural water ponds effectively through the liquid based management. The problem of rural water ponds has become a major health hazard thereby impacting the health of the rural inhabitants, the spokesperson added.