Chandigarh, May 14, 2013: In furtherance of its objective to provide safe drinking water to the residents of corporation cities across the state, the Punjab Government has embarked upon an ambitious plan of Rs. 400 crore on canal based water schemes to cater the need of 50% of Ludhiana city in next two years as a pilot project.
A decision to this effect was taken by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a high level meeting here at his official residence this evening. Mr. Badal asked the Secretary Local Government department to chalk out the modalities for this prestigious Canal Water Supply project.
Expressing the dire need to conserve Water and obtaining zero water waste, Badal called upon the Industrialists for the optimum utilisation of the STPs treated water instead of wasting fresh water as the treated water was fully recommended for any other industrial use except drinking.
Badal also approved the proposed Rs. 200 crore water supply project of the Local Government department to ensure 100% water supply for Ludhiana in next two years. He further asked the department to prepare a detailed plan to utilise storm water for irrigation purpose.
The Chief Minister also asked the department to prepare a comprehensive plan for Water Zoning and Distribution to ensure proper water supply network in the city, he also directed to depute independent Chief Engineer Water Supply and Sewerage for Ludhiana city. Likewise, for the proper maintenance of 700 Tube Wells, he asked the department to prepare a scheme and ensure uniformed supply of water throughout the city.
Taking part in the deliberations Local Govt. Minister Bhagat Chuni Lal said that there was a great need to motivate the employees of various municipal corporations and committees, presently work culture in all these offices was declining, he further asked the employees to work with dedication and devotion to cherish the high aspirations of the people of the state.
The Chief Minister was apprised that the ongoing Ludhiana Sewerage projects of Rs. 268.50 crore under JNNURM and Rs. 109.37 crore under HUDCO would be completed By 30th Sept. 2014 and 30th June 2014 respectively. It was also informed in the meeting that a high powered World Bank team was visiting Punjab on 23rd this month to explore new possibilities to initiate new programs for water supply and sewerage in two major cities of the state namely Ludhiana and Amritsar.
Prominent amongst those who were present in the meeting included Technical Advisor on Local Govt. Lt. Gen. (Retd.) VK Bhatt, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister SK Sandh, Special Principal Secretaries to the Chief Minister Gaggandip Singh Brar and Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Principal Secretary Industries Karan Avtar Singh, Secretary Local Government Ashok Kumar Gupta, Commissioner Municipal Corporation Ludhiana Rakesh Verma, MD Punjab Sewerage Board Satpal Angurala, and Board’s Chief Engineer BK Garg.