Gandhinagar

The Gujarat Government has begun implementing the Rs.69.92-crore Master Plan for Drought as preemptive measure to check drinking water shortage in 829 villages and six hamlets in eight districts, arising out of irregular and inadequate monsoon last season.

Giving breakup of facilities in 17,843 villages in the state, Water Supply Minister Vijaybhai Rupani said that 11,856 villages are connected with group projects, while 8,049 villages are connected with Narmada Canal, while 3,635 out of 3,807 villages connected to other sources.

While the capacity of 370 group pipeline projects is being increased to 337-crore litre in view of increased demand from normal time 100-crore litre, he said that there are 152,689 hand pumps, 11,850 mini pipeline projects, 8,250 tube wells in working condition.

The government has passed a resolution on March 23, 2016 increasing per capita supply of minimum 20 litre and 30 litres maximum in normal times to 50 litres (including that for cattle).

As per a resolution of March 10, 2016, the criterion of 10 per cent contribution from the people has been waived off making it mandatory for Water Supply Department to bear 100 per cent cost looking to extra-ordinary situation.

Giving details of urgent works undertaken, the Minister said that 201 teams have repaired 145,317 hand pumps (out of 252,000), installing 18,534 new hand pumps, deepening 515 tube wells, and completing 1,037 works.

The government has undertaken water supply works on war footing in Rajkot, Botad and Surendranagar districts, besides Vinchhiya, Khambhaliya, Lalpur, Khodaldham, Shaktivan-Kagwad, Bhadar dam linked and other areas.

– Information