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Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has said that millennium goals in respect of rural drinking water supply will be realized fully. Dr. Singh was reviewing the implementation of various programmes of the Department of Drinking Water Supply. The Minister suggested that top priority should be accorded to realization of the four goals: coverage of Not Covered(NC)/Partially Covered(PC) habitations; access to safe drinking water in 2:16 lakh quality affected habitations; launching of National Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance Programme, and effective implementation of the Total Sanitation Campaign. He also stated that these are essential for realization of Millennium Development Goals as well as the goals indicated in the NCMP.
It was indicated in the meeting that expenditure of about 61% has already been achieved and department was well placed to fully utilize the budgetary allocation.
As regards the new initiatives taken by Minister, it was mentioned that an additional amount of Rs. 248 crore was allocated to the Department for coverage of NC/PC and quality affected habitations which has been released to the States in October, 2004. A concept paper and an Action Plan has been prepared to cover all rural schools with drinking water supply and sanitation facilities by 2006-07 and a committee has been set up under the chairmanship of Secretary to closely monitor implementation of the Programme and coordinate with other departments. The Department is also taking steps to operationalise the community based National Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance Programme during this financial year with collaboration of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
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