Sunday 10, 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
The Union minister of State for Jal Shakti and Food Processing, Prahlad Patel said that the status of Jal Jeevan Mission is better in Uttarakhand with a target being set for supplying tapped drinking water in all homes by 2022. Talking to media persons at the Bharatiya Janata Party state office here on Saturday, Patel said that by August 15, 2015 the drinking water supply in Uttarakhand was eight per cent whereas now it is 47 per cent. This also clearly shows the state government’s vision for development. The minister further said that Assembly elections are slated to be held in the state soon, considering which the department has suggested that its employees should be excused from election duty and that work will be expedited if relaxation is provided in the tender process. Patel said that he will talk to the election commission regarding this and also put this aspect in the all-party meet so that work can be executed swiftly to address basic requirements. In order to maintain the quality of water, testing laboratories will be opened in all the blocks. Presently, such laboratories have been opened in 27 blocks. He further said that five women will be trained in each village for water testing and that this training has already been started. Patel said, “Due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for achieving the impossible, India has achieved the United Nations goals. The PM had said that making India open defecation free would be a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th anniversary and achieved it too. Still PM Modi called this only the first step and ODF 2 is currently underway. In Uttarakhand, better work is underway for cleaning the Ganga under Namami Gange.”
Referring to the efforts for cleaning the Ganga, he said that similar efforts will also be undertaken for other rivers so that sacred rivers can flow clean and freely. The State’s Water Resources minister Bishan Singh Chufal, BJP state vice president Devendra Bhasin and others were also present on the occasion.
Earlier, the Union minister met chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and discussed various works underway in the state with the ministry’s assistance. Dhami said that the aim of the Jal Jeevan mission to provide a tap and water in every home will be achieved soon. Patel said that the Jal Shakti ministry will provide all possible cooperation to the State, adding that the cases currently under process will be expedited.
