Tag Archives: WATER

Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab

Clarify your stand on SYL water for  Haryana

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IEP Chandigarh

Shiromani Akali Dal today asked Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to clear his stand on his own Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak’s demand for SYL water for Haryana even as the party asked the CM that before calling opposition parties for a debate he should hold a debate with his Haryana AAP unit on SYL canal issue.

Addressing a press conference here today, SAD Legal Wing President Arshdeep Singh Kler said the Punjab CM first provided Ministerial Kothi No. 964 to Haryana AAP unit team for demanding construction of SYL canal and ensuring water supply for Haryana and now he is silent on statement of his own Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Sandeep Pathak who has publicly advocated supply of SYL water for Haryana. He asked CM on how a Punjab Rajya Sabha MP can demand water for Haryana from SYL and why he was silent on the issue ?

Advocate Kler said that Bhagwant Mann should demand immediate suspension of the MP from the party while forwarding his case to Rajya Sabha secretariat for his suspension and subsequently declaring his seat vacant for opposing Punjab’s rights in the country.

Uncategorized

CM BATS FOR LAUNCHING A MASS MOVEMENT TO PRESERVE WATER AND ENVIRONMENT IN THE STATE

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IEP SAS Nagar (Mohali), June 5

Underlining the need for providing a sustainable environment to the future generations, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday gave a clarion call for launching a mass movement to preserve water and environment in the state.

The Chief Minister, while chairing a state level function to mark World Environment Day, expressed deep concern over the depleting ground water table and polluting environment in the state. He said that immediate remedial steps are required to save the only precious and scarce natural resource of Punjab in terms of water along with checking the environmental pollution. Bhagwant Mann said that this cannot be done by the government alone but people’s participation is must by launching a vigorous mass awareness campaign to sensitize them about its significance especially in wake of global warming.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab is a sacred land of great Gurus and saints, who have shown us the way to preserve the environment. While quoting the Gurbani, he said that the verse ‘Pawan Guru, Paani Pitaah, Mata Dharat Mahat’ explains how our great Gurus have equated air (pawan) with teacher, water (paani) with father and land (dharat) with mother. Unfortunately, Bhagwant Mann said that the words of the great Gurus have not been honoured by us, as we have polluted all these three, he added. 

The Chief Minister said that now the time has come when we must imbibe the teachings of Gurbani in letter and spirit to restore the glory of the state. While slamming the opposition parties for blatantly ignoring the environmental issues, He said that as water, air and land had no votes so these leaders ignored them. Bhagwant Mann said that due to this massive pollution and degradation of these natural resources took place thereby causing an irreparable loss to the society adding that after the formation of the AAP government in the state steps have been taken to save the environment.

Showing deep concern over the gravity of the emerging situation following the fast depleting water table, the Chief Minister said almost all the blocks in the state are in the dark zone as far as the groundwater is concerned. Bhagwant Mann said that it has happened due to reckless pumping of water in fields adding that the trend needs to be checked immediately so that our future generations do-not have to strive for water.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is taking massive steps for optimum utilisation of the canal water to save the groundwater. He said that at present Punjab is using only 33%-34% of its canal water adding that this will be enhanced in the coming days. Bhagwant Mann envisioned that if Punjab can enhance the canal water utilisation to 60% in first phase then nearly four lakh tubewells out of total 14 lakh can be stopped thereby helping in saving water.

The Chief Minister also cited the example of Telangana for water conservation and said that it is a revolutionary model that is aimed at recharging the water table holistically. He said that the Telangana government has constructed small dams in the villages for conserving the ground water across the state. Bhagwant Mann said that as a result of this the ground water level has increased upto four metres in the villages.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister dedicated the newly constructed ultra-modern building having world class instrumentation to the Punjab Biotechnology Incubator (PBTI) in Knowledge City. He envisioned that the unique facility will be extensively used for testing of food, agri, water, environment and health sectors for pesticides residues, heavy metals, food additives/adulterants etc. Apart from this, Bhagwant Mann also flagged off a Mobile van for onsite testing of food and water samples, developed by PBTI under Mission Tandrust Punjab.

In addition, an amount of Rs. 50 Crore for undertaking various Eco-Restoration Works was also allotted by the Chief Minister to the Department of Local Government (Rs. 45.45 Crore), Department of Rural Development & Panchayats (Rs. 3.92 Crore) and Department of Punjab Pollution Control Board (Rs. 63 Lacs). He also virtually inaugurated the Electricity Gallery at Pushpa Gujral Science City, Kapurthala and a Paddy Straw based Palletization Unit, Patiala developed with the technical and financial support of Punjab State Council for Science & Technology (PSCST).

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also conferred first edition of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Punjab State Annual Environment Award today to four organizations namely Gram Panchayat, Village Balloh, District Bathinda in the category of “Gram Panchayat”; Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar in the category of “Institution”; ITC Ltd (Foods Division), Kapurthala in the category of “Industry” and Kheti Virasat Mission, Jaitu, District Faridkot in the category of “NGO/Social Organization”. The Award included a cash prize of Rs. 1 Lac, a certificate of appreciation and silver plate memento to each organization. Bhagwant Mann also felicitated six grass root level innovators involved in development of low cost indigenous technologies and processes with their own ingenuity and know-how and also.

The Chief Minister also distributed Allotment Letters under the internship scheme of PBTI for skilling students of life sciences stream in latest high end techniques & instrumentation facilities and under PBTI’s Incubation Scheme for boosting startup ecosystem in the area of life sciences, biotechnology and allied sectors to transforms their ideas into commercially viable solutions.

On the occasion Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Rajya Sabha MP Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal and others were also present.

Punjab

Jimpa directs Water Supply and Sanitation Department to complete all schemes in timebound manner

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IEP Chandigarh, June 5

          Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Mr. Bram Shanker Jimpa during a meeting with the employees of the head office of Water Supply and Sanitation Department in Patiala, gave instructions to ensure the completion all the schemes of the department in a timebound manner. On this occasion, Mr. Jimpa rejected the apprehension expressed by these employees regarding shifting of the head office of the department and entire staff from Patiala to SAS Nagar.

          During this meeting held here at Punjab Bhavan on Monday, Mr. Bram Shanker Jimpa asked the employees posted at the head office to boost their performance. He said that any delay in the completion of the schemes initiated by the department to provide better services to the people of the state would not be tolerated.

          Meanwhile, reiterating the commitment towards the welfare of the employees of the department, the Water Supply and Sanitation Minister said that the employees can meet him anytime to resolve any of their issues. He noted with concern that 95 cases of the jobs at the compassionate ground were pending since long at the head office along with the cases related to the promotion of employees of C and D categories. He said the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government is committed to the welfare of every section of the society and any undue delay in such cases would not be tolerated.  He directed the employees of the head office to take swift action in all such cases.

          On this occasion, rejecting the apprehension of the employees of the head office that this office and its entire staff were being shifted from Patiala to SAS Nagar, Mr. Jimpa said that there is a proposal to build Jal Bhavan at Mohali where HoD office would be shifted. “Apart from the setting up conference hall and digital presentation of the department, arrangements will be made for important meetings with the persons visiting state capital for work related to the department in this Jal Bhawan”, he added.

          Prominent amongst others, Principal Secretary DWSS Mr. D.K. Tiwari and Special Secretary DWSS Mr. Mohammad Ishfaq were also present in this meeting.

Chandigarh, Chandigarh

Chandigarh Smart City installs water ATM in Sector 35 market

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 27,2022

Prem Lata, area councillor inaugurated the First water ATM in the market Sector 35, here today in the presence of Sh. N.P. Sharma, Chief Engineer, MCC & Shopkeepers of the Market.

While sharing information about the scheme, the Chief Engineer said that Chandigarh Smart City Ltd. has provided Municipal Corporation 4 water ATMS which have been installed in the Market of Sector 35 Chandigarh. All the Water ATMs have been supplied by Punjab and Sind Bank under CSR funds at a cost of each Water ATM about Rs. 5.25 Lakh.

He said that the Municipal Corporation has incurred expenditure of installation and civil work costing about Rs 2 Lakh per Water ATM and also will bear its maintenance charges including electricity and water charges from time to time.

He further said that the potable water of quality as per BIS standards -14543 duly will be available to the Shop Keepers as well as visitors from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm daily at the following charges :-

Rs1/- for 300ML

Rs.3/- for 500ML

Rs.5/- for 1000ML

Rs.20 for 5000 ML

Rs.35/- for 20000ML.

The Chief Engineer said the Water ATM has been equipped with provision for chilled water (water with temperature around 15 degree celsius during summers. A LED digital screen has been provided to show four key parameters of water standards namely PH, Hardness, TDS & temperature on real time basis. The user may scan the card or insert the coin on WAU(Water ATM Unit) sensor and press the button depending on the water requirements.

He said the storage capacity of each Water ATM is 500 Ltr which has been enhanced by providing water storage tank of 1000 Ltr along Water ATM. This will meet the long pending demand of shopkeepers as well as visitors in the market of non-availability of drinking water in the market.


Chandigarh, Punjab

Water Resources Minister urges people not to dispose of carcasses in any waterbody

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 12, 2022

Punjab Water Resources Minister  Harjot Singh Bains today urged livestock farmers and general public of the state not to dispose of carcasses of dead animals in any waterbody.

In a statement issued here today, Mr Bains said that it has come to his notice that some people are disposing of carcasses of cattles killed by lumpy skin disease in Waterbodies and 5 dead cattles has been found floating in Kotbhai tributary near Mahima Bhagwana village in Bathinda.

 Urging the people to bury the animals killed by Lumpy Skin Disease by digging a deep pit, the minister said that carcasses should be disposed of as per the instructions issued by the Animal Husbandry Department. 

This trend should be stopped immediately as it can aggravate the situation further, said Mr Bains .

On the instructions of the Minister of Water Resources, the Principal Secretary of the Department has issued a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, asking that necessary steps should be taken to prevent animals killed by Lumpy Skin Disease from being disposing of into the waterbodies if found anyone doing so a necessary action should be taken.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Chief Secretary directs all departments to ensure necessary arrangements to address water and air pollution issues

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 8, 2022

Punjab Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua today directed all departments concerned with controlling water & air pollution to work on a war footing in order to make Punjab and its rivers and streams pure and clean.

Reiterating the commitment of chief minister Bhagwant Mann to make a pollution free environment in the state, the Chief Secretary reviewed the discharge of sewage and effluents and disposal of solid and plastic waste in the state.  

While reviewing the water pollution of rivers due to discharge of sewage and effluents, the Local Government Department apprised that out of 111 STPs of about 785 MLD capacity proposed to be set up in the State, the work in 53 STPs (617.5 MLD) is already in progress. All the 111 STPs are likely to be made functional by December 31, 2023 and the State would be able to achieve the desired quality in the rivers. As far as pollution of river Sutlej is concerned, the 2 STPs at Jamalpur (225 MLD) & Balloke (60 MLD) are likely to be completed by March 31, 2023. Further, the Common Effluent Treatment Plants of 40 MLD & 50 MLD capacity for the treatment of Textile Dying Effluents at Ludhiana have already been commissioned.

Regarding the treatment of Dairy Effluents in Ludhiana, the work for setting up of the Compressed Bio Gas Plant to treat 300 Tons/day of Cow dung has been awarded. Further, there is a plan to set up one more Bio Gas Plant at Haibowal Dairy Complex which will handle around 200 Tons/day of Cow dung.Further, regarding the treatment of Liquid Waste being generated from Tajpur & Haibowal Dairy Complexes, the work on setting up of 2 ETPs is under progress and is likely to be completed by March 31, 2023.

In the meeting Rural Development & Panchayats Department informed the Committee that the work of rejuvenation of ponds has been completed in 860 villages and is under progress in 515 villages. 

The Chief Secretary was appraised by PPCB  that the State is strictly enforcing the ban on Single use plastic items as per the directions of Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change, Govt. of India. A State Level function had also been organized under the guidance of Chief Minister and Science Technology & Environment Minister on August 5, 2022 for creating awareness among public. 

The Chief Secretary was also apprised that Solid Waste Management, door to door collection and segregation of waste at source has been started. Further, around 8250 compost pits have been constructed for the management of wet waste and 266 material recovery facilities have been set up for the management of dry waste.

Regarding the Bio-remediation of old dump sites, it was informed that the work in 114 ULBs is to be completed by December 31, 2022, 32 ULBs by March 31, 2023 & 2 ULBs by March 31, 2024. The Local Government department has also set up micro units in 139 ULBs for the processing of construction and demolition waste. A 60 TPD Plant has also been commissioned at MC, Jalandhar.

Prominent among others who were present in the meeting included Financial Commissioner Rural Development K. Siva Prasad, Principal Secretary Housing & Urban Development Ajoy Kumar Sinha, Principal Secretary Local Government Vivek Pratap Singh, Secretary Environment Rahul Tiwari, Chairman Punjab Pollution Control Board Dr. Adarsh Pal Vig, CEO Punjab Water Supply & Sewerage Board Varinder Kumar Sharma, CEO PMIDC Isha Kalia, CEO PEDA Sumeet Jarangal, Director Environment Manish Kumar.

Chandigarh, Punjab

CM ASKS WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION DEPARTMENT TO EXPEDITE PROCESS FOR SETTING UP SOLAR POWERED WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES IN STATE

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 24, 2022

The Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has asked the Water Supply and Sanitation Department to expedite the process for setting up Solar Powered water supply schemes in the state.

Chairing a meeting here to review the functioning of the department, the Chief Minister said that tapping of solar energy for water supply schemes will be very beneficial for the state. He said that this initiative will go a long way in saving electricity on one hand and ensuring regular water supply in the villages on the other. The Chief Minister was informed that through this innovation department is mulling to install Solar-powered schemes in 1,508 villages to achieve sustainability and self-sufficiency by generating 8708 kW capacity at a cost of Rs. 60.50 crore.

Dwelling on another agenda, the Chief Minister also gave nod for digital adaptation in 1,731 villages where schemes will be linked with Internet of Things (IoT) and remote monitoring and operation of water supply will be done. He approved launching of this Pilot Project worth Rs. 106 crore in 93 villages and 100% coverage in 23 blocks. Bhagwant Mann also asked Department to roll on digital initiative, mGram Seva – an application which was launched as pilot project in 100 villages to ensure transparency and accountability in revenue collection and financial management.

The Chief Minister was informed that 99.63 % of rural households have tap water connections under Jal Jeevan Mission and 20 out of 23 district have achieved 100% coverage whereas on sanitation side also state is open defecation free. He said that as state is facing water quality issues such as heavy metals, arsenic, fluoride, iron, uranium, TDS and others, Large Surface water projects coming up in Patiala, Amritsar, TarnTaran, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Sri Anandpur Sahib at cost of Rs. 2,081 crore covering over 1,800 villages should be accomplished and operationalised soon. Bhagwant Mann said that Special Mitigation works for Arsenic and Fluoride affected areas should also be accorded top priority for ensuring potable supply of water to people.

The Chief Minister also said that works being executed for community sanitary complexes in rural areas/ compost pits/ storage for plastic waste/renovation of village ponds and construction of soak pits at a cost of Rs. 145 crore should also be expedited. He also directed the officers to finish the ongoing projects at the earliest so that public can be benefited from them. Bhagwant Mann said that safe water supply is directly linked to the health of people and their economic upliftment.

On the occasion Cabinet Minister Brahm Shankar Jimpa, Principal Secretary Water Supply and Sanitation DK Tiwari and others were also present.