Chandigarh, October 25: Haryana Public Health Engineering and Public Works Minister, Sh. Ranbir Gangwa, said that the State Government is committed to providing clean, adequate, and uninterrupted water supply to its citizens. To prevent wastage of drinking water, address leakage issues, and promote water conservation, the government is diligently working on bringing a new act.
Sh. Ranbir Gangwa was addressing a press conference during the closing ceremony of the two-day workshop organised by the Public Health Engineering Department at Panchkula.
Sh. Gangwa said that the objective of the proposed Act is to promote water conservation and ensure uninterrupted water supply to citizens. He informed that the draft of the Act has already been prepared and will soon be presented before the Assembly for approval. The Minister appealed to the public to support the government’s efforts in conserving water and avoid its wastage.
Sh. Gangwa said that this was the first workshop of its kind organized by the department, in which officers from the level of JE to EIC participated. During the workshop, participants shared their technical experiences and discussed ways to improve service quality. Experts from IIT Roorkee also guided the officers on technical aspects. The workshop focused on enhancing technical efficiency, improving water quality, ensuring transparency in project execution, modern water management, sewerage and flood control, he added.
He further said that the government aims to provide urban-level facilities in villages as well so that residents do not have to migrate to cities for their needs. Under the Mahagram Yojana, 148 villages with a population of more than 10,000 have been identified. Out of these, water supply, sewerage, and STP systems have been completed in 17 villages, while work is in progress in 30 others and within the next two years, all villages under the scheme will be equipped with facilities comparable to those in urban areas.
Sh. Gangwa said that the department has been directed to prepare a comprehensive action plan to address the problem of waterlogging after the monsoon season. He said that making Haryana a ‘Water Smart State’ is our commitment, in line with Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Har Ghar Nal Se Jal’. Expressing confidence, he said that with the collective efforts of officers, employees, and the public, Haryana will emerge as a leading Water Smart State in the country, a model that other states will follow.
Responding to a question Sh. Gangwa said, strict directions have been issued to avoid manual cleaning of sewerage systems to prevent any mishaps during such work. Officers have also been directed to prepare a long-term plan for sewerage and drinking water supply keeping in mind the requirements of the next 30 years.
Responding to another question, he said that under the Jal Jeevan Mission, important works such as setting up water works, replacing pipelines, and establishing boosting stations are being carried out in villages. There is not a single village in the State where development works worth Rs.1 to Rs. 5 crore have not been undertaken. Currently, 55 percent of the water supply in Haryana is tube well-based, while 45 percent is canal-based.
