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The National Advisory Council (NAC) has suggested a series of measures to improve water supply in rural and urban areas and sanitation at its fifteenth meeting chaired by Smt. Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi today. The meeting was attended by ten Members of the Council.
The Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission made a presentation on the goals of the rural drinking water and sanitation sector. In appreciating the efforts made over the years by the Mission, the NAC highlighted the following :- (i) There is immediate need for a vastly expanded Rural Sanitation Programme all over the country, (ii) It is also necessary to complete coverage in all the “Uncovered” habitations in the next four years, (iii) The National Programme for the restoration of local and traditional water bodies is extremely important from the point of view of enhancing rural water supply.
As regards water supply in the urban areas, the NAC emphasized :- (i) The need for a significantly enhanced Programme for Sewage Control and Sanitation, (ii) A sharper focus on urban water supply and sanitation as part of the National Urban Renewal Mission, (iii) The need for Public-Private Partnerships to be implemented after due processes of consultation, in an environment of transparency, and with adequate accountability safeguards.
A presentation was made by the Planning Commission on the findings of the recently-completed ‘Mid-Term Appraisal of the Tenth Plan’ in which attention was drawn to the strengths and weaknesses of the economy and the need for remedial steps in several areas. It was emphasized that focussed attention on Health and Education is imperative for sustainable long-term growth. Policy interventions that are urgently required in Agriculture, in the Social Sectors and in Infrastructure were also discussed. The NAC underscored the importance of innovations in Delivery Systems that would ensure a key role for Panchayati Raj and Community organizations.
YSR/CS
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