Rs 10 crore water supply scheme for Naina Devi

Bilaspur, Mar 16 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh government has prepared a Rs 10 crore potable water scheme for the religious town of Naina Devi in Bilaspur district of the state, Forest Minister Ram Lal Thakur said today.

''The water supply scheme will ease the drinking water problem of Naina Devi, which is frequented by thousands of pilgrims around the year, coming to pay their obeisance to the Goddess,'' he said at a meeting, while reviewing the Rs 75 crore irrigation project for Changar area of the district.

Mr Thakur thanked Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for revising the estimate of this project from Rs 28 crore to Rs 75 crore, covering 2,350 hectare of Changar area, which is devoid of irrigation facilities since centuries.

The Bhakra Management Board (BMB) had also agreed for the construction of the Rs 2.66 crore drinking water supply scheme for Bhakra and surrounding three panchayat aras he said.

Referring to the recurring water shortage in the entire Bilaspur district, he said a special plan was being prepared for the town to augment the current water supply scheme.

The Forest Minister said another water supply scheme was being prepared to tide over the water crises in the district.

He said the irrigation and public health (IPH) department has been directed to prepare an estimate for the construction of a sewerage plant for the town, as the old system had become old and obsolete.

Similar plans for Mandi and Solan districts of the state were already under implementation, Mr Thakur added.

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