Water, sanitation panels in villages soon: Chief Secy

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 5

Chief Secretary Anil Kumar Khachi presided over a review meeting of the State Water and Sanitation Mission here yesterday.

He said in order to ensure quality potable water in the state, water and sanitation committees were being constituted in all gram panchayats, according to the guidelines of the Jal Jeevan Mission.

A total of 47 laboratories had been set up to ensure the availability of clean drinking water in the state and it would also be ensured that all district-level laboratories are accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Laboratories (NABL), he stated.

Khachi said 9,21,653 households had been provided drinking water connections by April 2020 and by March 2021, a total of 2,66,209 households would be provided the same, out of which 1,81,747 households had already been given water connections.

Till now, all houses in Kandaghat, Pooh, Lahaul and Spiti development blocks, 311 panchayats and 5,081 villages of the state have been provided with tap water.

The Chief Secretary said Rs 243.10 crore had been received from the Centre for the Jal Jeevan Mission this year.

From October 2, a 100-day campaign was being run by the Government of India under which 16,889 schools, 18,925 Anganwadi centers and 43 Ashramshalas would be provided with tap water, Anil Kumar Khachi added.