DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

On the guidelines issued by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Bram Shankar Jimpa presided over a high-level meeting at Punjab Bhawan today to review the department's works. Chairing the meeting he stressed that no village should face a water shortage this summer and that alternative arrangements should be made immediately made in areas with scant drinking water supply. He also instructed that work on 15 surface/canal water schemes in Punjab should be completed within the stipulated time.

The minister was informed that 15 surface water schemes, costing Rs. 2940 crore, are operational in different areas of Punjab. Most of these schemes will be completed by the end of this year, with some extending into next year. These schemes will benefit 24,73,261 people in 4,33,055 houses across 1,706 villages.

The schemes are located in Mandoli and Pabra (Patiala), Nanowal (Fatehgarh Sahib), Parowal and Kunjar (Gurdaspur), Chawinda Kalan, Gonsal Afghana, and Kandowali (Amritsar), Sangana, Bhuchar Kalan (Taran Taran), Manakpur (Rupnagar), Patrewala and Ghateya Wali Bodla (Fazilka), Sohangarh Rattewala (Firozepur), and Talwara (Hoshiarpur). Jimpa instructed that these schemes should be completed and dedicated to the public on time to ensure a clean water supply to every villager.

During the meeting, senior department officials reported that out of 1,463 complaints received in May on the toll-free number 1800-180-2468 regarding water supply issues, 1,433 have been resolved and 947 complaints received till June 17, 548 have been resolved.

Jimpa also directed higher officials to involve local representatives like MLAs, MCs, and Sarpanch-Panch in the public presentation of pro-people works and schemes. He reviewed existing schemes, RO plants, tube wells, and other works, issuing necessary guidelines.

Jimpa inquired about the Bajwara Sewerage Project in Hoshiarpur, which is scheduled for completion by August 2025. He emphasized that the project should be completed within the stipulated time and handed over to the public. The project should be well-monitored to ensure minimum disruption to city residents during the sewage

installation.

The Minister of Water Supply and Sanitation also directed to conduct a campaign for waste management in rural areas on a large scale. He said that the cooperation of the people is very important for the proper management of waste, so the department should take effective steps to make the villages of Punjab clean by motivating and making people aware. Principal Secretary Neelkanth Awad, Head of Department Amit Talwar, all Chief Engineers and other officials were present in the meeting.
(editor@dailyworld.in)