Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Virender Kanwar while participating in the National level workshop on Total Sanitation organized by the Ministry of Water Resources at New Delhi last evening urged the Centre for formulating new schemes for construction of community toilets besides developing sewerage system in rural areas on the lines of existing system in urban areas.Addressing the conference, Rural Development Minister apprised that the state had achieved the target of ODF in 2012 itself and added that toilets were available for men and women in schools, panchayats, Mahila and Yuvak Mandals. He said that rain water harvesting tanks were being constructed in schools and that water is being used for toilets. He said that state has not only enforced complete ban on polythene but ban on plastic bottles, trays, plates etc was also being enforced strictly.
Virender Kanwar said that state is developing a self sustained model for solid and liquid waste disposal based on cluster approach to ensure cleanliness and added that beginning has been made on experimental basis in Aima panchayat of Palampur in Kangra district where recycling of solid and liquid waste is being done successfully in a unit. He further said that state has adopted water conservation as a priority under MNREGA and constructed 1088 structures in one year in 14thFinance Commission. In addition to this revival of traditional water sources is also being done by involving Gram Panchayats, Mahila and Yuvak Mandals as caretakers.Secretary Rural Development R N Batta accompanied the Minister during the workshop.