The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that the state government has embarked ‘Punjab Rural Water & Sanitation Sector Improvement Project’ worth Rs.2200 crore to improve Water & Sanitation Services and create open defecation free environment in all villages across the state.Interacting with the media persons after visiting this village, adopted by Union Food Processing Minister Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojna, the Chief Minister said that the state government was committed to provide basic civic amenities in every nook and corner of the state. He said that the focus of new project was to provide a toilet and water connection in all the households within next three years (2015-2018). Likewise, Mr. Badal said that all the existing rural water supply schemes would be augmented to provide 70 liters per capita per day (lpcd) against the current consumption of 40 lpcd.The Chief Minister pointed out that enhancement of water supply scheme to 70 lpcd would make it technically feasible to release water connections to all households as per demand. He said that this in turn would lead to financial sustainability of Rural Water Supply (RWS) schemes and the villagers would have access to minimum 10 hour water supply.
The Chief Minister said that it was a matter of great pride and satisfaction that Punjab would become the first state in the country to achieve the prescribed norm for supplying potable drinking water at par with international standards in the rural sector besides making our state free from ‘open defecation’. Mr. Badal said that the state government was already committed to provide the clean and safe water to the people of Punjab especially in rural areas and thus earmarked Rs.300 crore to provide treated water from surface water resources such as rivers/canals to water quality affected in 121 villages of Moga and Barnala districts.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister reviewed the ongoing development works in the village and interacted with the villagers and Panchayat members about its progress. He specially monitored the ongoing work of construction of toilets in the village and acceding to the demand of the villagers asked the department to enhance the size of toilet block. Mr. Badal also directed the officers to ensure water supply in every household and issue certificate for it. He also asked the officers to construct the streets in the village only after completion of working of water supply. Mr. Badal said that the sole aim of the state government was to ensure overall development of the state and prosperity of its people.The Chief Minister was accompanied by Chairman Mr. Tejinder Singh Middukhera, Circle President of SAD Mr. Avtar Singh Vanwala, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Jaskiran Singh.