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Minister of Rural Development Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has asked State Governments to work out the plan to ensure timely achievement of the goals set under “Bharat Nirman” for drinking water supply. He was inaugurating a review meeting of the performance of various programmes being implemented with the State Governments here today. The meeting was organized by the Department of Drinking Water Supply, Rajeev Gandhi Drinking Water Mission. Nine States/Union Territories viz. Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Chandigarh and Delhi took part in it.
The Rural Development Minister said that providing safe drinking water supply to the common man is the highest priority of the Government. Accordingly the budget allocation in the current financial year has been enhanced to Rs. 4050 crore under Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) as against allocation of Rs. 2900 crore in the last year.
Dr. Singh emphasized that in “Bharat Nirman” Drinking Water Supply is one of the six components. The goals envisaged for Bharat Nirman provides for 100% coverage of uncovered and partially covered habitations by the year 2009, tackling water quality problem by the year 2009, coverage of drinking water and sanitation facilities to all the schools by the year 2006-07 and the ensure full coverage of slip back habitations by the year 2009.
The Minister said that apart from availability of water, sustainability is equally important, therefore, the implementing agencies are expected to be extra careful in selecting the sites as well as to provide for proper water harvesting mechanisms for recharge of the sources. He advised the State Governments to coordinate effectively various ongoing rural development programmes of the Centre.
Expressing concerns over poor performance of some States Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh directed the Department of Drinking Water Supply to set time line for activities and asked the State Governments to adhere to the time limits set by the Centre.
Expressing concern over slow implementation of Total Sanitation Campaign in some Districts of different States, the Minister said State Secretaries to undertake district wise review, plan out strategy and work out modalities to see that all rural households have individual household toilets. He said that funds shall not be a constraint in total sanitation coverage of the country.
AKS/AM
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