Chief Minister appeals public to save water, on World Water Day
Raipur, 22 March 2018
Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh appealed people to save water for saving human life and animal kingdom, on the occasion of World Water Day.
On the occasion of World Water Day, Chief Minister said in his appeal to public that saving water and water resources such as rivers, ponds, lakes and waterfalls and keeping them clean is our social responsibility. Chhattisgarh Government is taking serious steps in the direction and making every possible effort. Rainwater harvesting and watershed programmes are being promoted in the state. Under MNREGA, a large number of small-big water structures are being built in rural areas. Dr Singh said- more than 21 thousand new ponds and 56 thousand 397 ponds have been renovated in last 12 years, eversince MNREGA started. Nearly 3500 check dam, 81 anicuts, 2637 stop dams have been constructed and renovated, also thousands of irrigation canals have been constructed and canal lining works have been done. Water Resource Department has constructed 651 anicuts in various rivers-rivulets of the state, which has largely contributed in improving groundwater table. Villagers and farmers are getting irrigation facility at local level itself. Presently, 157 anicuts and stop-dams are being constructed.
Chief Minister said- Government has been consistently making efforts to provide safe drinking water to people. Dr Raman Singh has emphasized on importance of public participation in these efforts. He said that the state had only one lakh 36 thousand handpumps in year 2003, which has increased to two lakh 68 thousand at present, in nearly 14 years. Presently, Chhattisgarh has one hand pump for population of every 73. Besides, the number of rural nal-jal praday yojana has increased from 978 to 3148. More than three lakh 75 thousand domestic tap connections have been provided under rural nal-jal praday yojana. State Government has also laid emphasis on quality of drinking water. 27 district-level labs and 24 sub-block-level labs are being conducted for examining quality of water. Moreover, 18 mobile labs have also been established. In non-electrified areas, drinking water is being supplied through solar-energy based pumps. In urban areas, construction of 67 jal praday yojana has been completed. Besides, construction of jal praday yojana in 81 cities is in progress. It is noteworthy that UNO had declared in the international conference on Environment and Development held in Brazil in year 1992 that March 22 every year should be observed as World Water Day. Later, on March 22, 1993 first World Water Day was celebrated.
