SHIMLA: The recent outbreak of diarrhoea in Jol Sappar area under Nadaun assembly constituency of chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has prompted the state government to take action. To address the issue, the govt has decided to set up a water treatment plant for the three drinking water schemes of Kunah khad. A sum of Rs 1 crore has been immediately released to start the process, and the tender process will commence in the coming week.
Deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri said the noose on illegal mining around the drinking water schemes across the state would be tightened. He said the officers of the Jal Shakti department had been instructed to register FIRs in such cases immediately.
Deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri, who also holds the portfolio of Jal Shakti department, himself visited the affected areas to inspect and assess the situation. He said due to illegal mining in the area the water bodies were contaminated. The deputy CM said action would be initiated against the officials who failed to act against the illegal mining in the area.
He said after finding illegal mining responsible for water contamination in Kunah khad, strict directions had been issued for the water supply schemes across the state to ensure their safety.
He said the state government was committed to provide clean drinking water to every household and comprehensive steps were being taken in this direction. He said a task force would be formed to check the sources ofall drinking water schemes in the state.
Talking about the drinking water and irrigation schemes in Hamirpur district, Mukesh Agnihotri said a target had been fixed to complete the irrigation scheme of about Rs 156 crore for Nadaun area by March 31.
He said for a permanent solution to the drinking water problem of Barsar assembly constituency, tenders for a large scheme will be re-done, due to which the department would save about Rs 50 crore.
He said that for this scheme of about Rs 131 crore, instead of river Beas, water will now be lifted from Satluj. He said under the Jal Jeevan Mission, a provision of Rs 71crore had been made for the drinking water schemes of district Hamirpur.
About half of this amount has been spent and all the remaining works under the mission will be completed expeditiously.
