Haryana Government has decided to set up a Mineral Water Plant for manufacturing of bottled mineral drinking water under the brand name ‘Haryana Fresh’ through Public Health Engineering Department. Further, the first rural sewerage system under the Mahagram Scheme will be inaugurated in village Sotai in Faridabad on August 15, 2020.
These decisions were taken in the 53rd meeting of Water Supply and Sewerage Board of Public Health Engineering Department held under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal here today.
Mr Mahohar Lal directed the Department to chalk out the modalities for the setting up of this plant. Initially, the bottled mineral water from the plant would be made available to the government institutions. Later, mineral water Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants would be set up in the educational institutions to provide clean and fresh drinking water to the students.
It was also decided in the meeting that a comprehensive testing laboratory would be set up in all districts of the State wherein apart from the drinking water; quality of other eatables would also be checked.
Mr Manohar Lal said that to provide clean and adequate drinking water facility to the people is among the top priorities of the State Government. Directing the department to ensure that there is no shortage of drinking water supply in urban and rural areas especially during the summer season, he also sought the detailed plan prepared by the department for the drinking water supply in different areas of the State.
It was informed in the meeting that the total outlay of the Public Health Engineering Department is Rs 3676.10 crore. A sum of Rs 1563.34 crore has been earmarked during the year 2020-21 for the creation and augmentation of new water supply, sewerage and storm water drainage infrastructure creation. Apart from this, a sum of Rs 405.26 crore has been earmarked for improvement of drinking water supply and providing sewerage and storm water system in urban areas whereas, a sum of Rs 1044.25 crore has been earmarked for improvement of drinking water supply and providing sewerage system in rural areas.
In the meeting, the Board also approved Rs 1313.84 crore for the improvement of drinking water supply facilities, sewerage system in rural and urban areas and storm water drainage facilities in urban areas besides allocating funds for 5185 ongoing schemes and 595 new schemes.
It was also informed that as of now, out of about 30.73 lakh rural households in the State, Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) has been provided to 23.73 lakh households. A target has been fixed to provide FHTC in 7 lakh households during the year 2020-21 under Jal Jeevan Mission out of which 4.18 lakh households have already been provided with FHTC. Haryana is aiming to cover hundred per cent eligible rural households with FHTCs by the year 2022 well before the national target of the year 2024. A sum of Rs 265 crore has been allotted under Central Plan.
It was informed that the Public Health Engineering Department has established an effective online monitoring mechanism for on-going works so as to ensure that they are completed as per the set timelines. At present 3,323 schemes including 2,846 schemes in rural areas and 477 schemes in urban areas are in progress.
It was informed that from financial year 2020-21, each work has been assigned six critical dates of administrative approval, tender floating , tender allotment, starting of work, work completion and financial closure. Accordingly, targets of commissioning tube-wells, canal- based water works, Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs), boosters have been fixed.
It was informed that under Mahagram Yojana, 129 villages have been selected for laying sewerage system in villages. Villages having population less than 10,000 persons, consented to bear the expenses for laying of the sewerage system and upgradation of water supply are also being considered depending upon the feasibility reports of such villages.
Among those present in the meeting included Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary Power Mr T.C. Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Urban Local Bodies Mr S.N. Roy, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Mr T.V.S.N. Prasad, Additional Chief Secretary Public Health Engineering Department Mr Devender Singh, Principal Secretary Development and Panchayats Mr Sudhir Rajpal, Deputy Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mrs Ashima Brar and other senior officers of the State Government.