15,170 rural inhabitations get an assured water supply of 70 lpcd

Chandigarh, September 6, 2012: The Punjab Government would spend Rs.1,034 crore to provide potable water in 2,481 villages of the state. The Government would also ensure that all the 15170 rural inhabitations get an assured water supply of 70 lpcd by the end of December, 2013.

This was disclosed by Virsa Singh Valtoha, Chief Parliament Secretary, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation. He said that the Punjab Government has chalked out a comprehensive plan for the current year 2012-13 to provide clean and safe drinking water to the villages. He said that under this scheme 600 villages would be covered and 70 liters water per person per day would be supplied. He said that water meter would also be installed, which would check illegal connection and wastage of water. He said that water bills would range from Rs.70 to 100 per month.

Valtoha said that it would be strictly ensured that the presence of uranium and heavy metals in the drinking water should not exceed than the set parameters.

Further, he said in some of the rural areas of the state water supply schemes didn't work and the set targets have not achieved. He appealed the local leaders to bring such cases into his notice so that water supply scheme could be implemented in true spirit. He said that all the District Officers of the Department have been asked to send the status reports of the water supply schemes in 10 days.