VIR BHADRA SINGH: Himachal Govt formulates its own water policy
Author(s): Arvind SharmaDharamsala, December 28, 2012: “The state government has formulated its own "State Water Policy” to provide adequate and safe drinking water to all citizens and assured irrigation to maximum feasible cultivated...
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Dec 28, 2012 12:30
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Dharamsala, December 28, 2012: “The state government has formulated its own "State Water Policy” to provide adequate and safe drinking water to all citizens and assured irrigation to maximum feasible cultivated area through public participation ,” said Chief Minister Himachal Vir Bhadra Singh .
He said that keeping in view the impact of global warming; a new pattern to design/execute new water supply schemes had been formulated under which bigger water resources were being tapped to cover maximum possible population.
Speaking in 6th meeting of National Water Resources Council at New Delhi on Friday Singh said that 28,073 hand pumps had been installed in water scarcity areas of the State and urban water supply schemes were being augmented keeping in view the increasing population of urban areas in the state.
He said , “The government had also set up Ground Water Authority to regulate, manage and develop ground water resources in the state and construction of water harvesting structures had been made mandatory for all Government buildings, institutional buildings, schools, hotels and industrial units to conserve rain water to further utilise it for various purposes such as gardening, cleaning etc.”
He said that as per 2011 census, 89.5 % families were using tap water in the state in comparison to 84.1 % people in previous census, adding that 83.9% of tap water was being made available from treated sources in the state as against 32% at national level.
Singh said that government would accord priority to provide safe drinking water and irrigation facilities to the farmers and added that all census villages had been provided safe drinking water in the state. As per 2003 survey there were 53201 habitations in the state out of which 42476 habitations have been covered up to march 2012 and the remaining 10725 habitations would be covered during the current financial year. He said that State Government was providing 70 litres drinking water per person per day in rural areas.
