Chandigarh, May 19: Punjab would spend Rs 118.93 crore in order to provide potable water to approximately 10 lakhs people residing in rural areas of the state during the current financial year. Jasjit Singh Randhawa public health minister today said that out of the total 12402 villages, 11849 villages had been identified as problem villages having scarcity of drinking water as per the government of India norms.
Safe drinking water supply had been provided to 7847 villages till march this year. Remaining not covered (NC) villages, Sai Randhawa, would be covered in phased manner shortly, he told reporters.
The Punjab government, keeping in view the health and hygiene of the rural children, would provide potable water to 1200 rural schools on priority during the current financial year.
He also said that till March 2003, 7338 rural schools out of the total of 11051 had already been provided with safe drinking water while the remaining 3713 schools would also be provided with these facilities under rural water supply programmes, he added. Bureau Report