Honorarium for ‘Swacchta Didi’ increased, Financial Powers bestowed on Municipal Council-Panchayat Heads, Rs 1.50 crore sanctioned for development works
Chief Minister addressed daylong workshop on rainwater harvesting
Raipur, 27 July 2019
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel made several announcements in his address to the workshop on rainwater harvesting, organized by Urban Administration and Development Department.
Baghel announced hike in honorarium of ‘Swachhta Didi’ from Rs 5 thousand to Rs 6000 per month. This will directly benefit 10 thousand workers working as ‘Swachhta Didi’. It is known that 10 thousand ‘Swachhta Didi’ in 166 urban bodies of the state collect wet and dry garbage from door-to-door every day. It is because of the hard work of these didis, President Mr. Ramnath Kovind had felicitated Chhattisgarh state.
Chief Minister also announced that the heads of municipal councils and panchayats will be given financial powers again. In the same sequence, Chief Minister announced sanction of Rs 5-10 crore for each municipal corporation based on population and requirements, and sanction of Rs one crore for each of the 44 municipal councils in the state, also sanction of Rs 50 lakh each for 111 nagar panchayats in the state.
About the cause of water conservation, Chief Minister said that rainwater harvesting is nothing new for us. Our ancestors in Gujarat and Rajasthan used to do rainwater harvesting. Best example of water conservation is at the house of Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi in Porbandar, where water from the terrace gets collected in a well located in porch. Chief Minister said that the concretization of lanes, roads and porches prevents rainwater from getting absorbed by the land. He added that people can collect rainwater from terrace in their wells. Unsuccessful borewells can be used for water harvesting or rainwater from terrace can be poured on ground. Chief Minister gave example of his home saying that he had got installed the rainwater harvesting system in his home in year 2001. During summer, when entire locality complained of dry borewell, the borewell at his home had sufficient water.
Presiding over the programme, Urban Administration and Development Minister Mr. Shiv Kumar Dahariya said that against the target of installing rainwater harvesting system in 47 thousand buildings under all the urban administration bodies, 15 thousand 500 buildings have been equipped with rainwater harvesting system. He said that under drinking water augmentation schemes, three lakh 50 thousand families in state will be provided tap connections for water supply. Food Minister Mr. Mohammad Akbar said that global warming has brought drastic change in the environment. He said that earlier check dams were built and other measures were taken for water recharging, which failed to yield satisfactory results. State Government is making efforts to revive the natural water resources through Narva Yojana.
On the occasion, Chief Minister launched Urban Administration and Development Department’s portal based on e-governance, released a video prepared for Cleanliness Survey 2020 and a brochure based on guidelines of Pauni Pasari Yojana. Mr. Baghel felicitated 23 urban bodies of the state under Cleanliness Survey 2019 Award Scheme. Under Housing Scheme, Chief Minister released Mor Pradarshan-Mor Samman Booklet, Mor Zameen-Mor Makaan guidebook, Mor Makaan-Mor Chinhari guidebook, ‘Sugghar Ghar Duari Patrak’, Cleanliness pocket book, ‘Swachhta Sirmaur-Shahri Chhattisgarh’ Booklet, Mahila Swachhta Army booklet, and the branding logo of women self-help group. On the occasion, Special Secretary of Urban Administration and Development Department Mrs. Alermelmangai D, Mayors, Speakers and officials of Municipal Councils, Municipal Corporations and officials of Urban Development Department were also present.
