Prepare action plan for safe drinking water:Speaker

Patna, Mar 30 (UNI) Presiding Officer in Bihar assembly Bhola Singh today directed the state government to prepare an action plan for providing pure and safe drinking water to the people.

Intervening in the reply of Public Health Engineering Department Minister Prem Kumar, Mr Singh said people were forced to drink contaminated water. He directed the minister to hold meetings and review the situation with the concerned officers and prepare an action plan for supply of pure drinking water.

Earlier, replying to a call attention in the assembly, Mr Kumar said the iron content in the drinking water was high in nine north east districts including Purniya, Kishanganj, Arariya, Katihar, Saharsa, Supaul, Begusarai, Khagariya and Madhepura.In order to solve the problem, he said 3383 iron extracting machines were set up in Katihar under a scheme sanctioned in 1998-99 and 2000-01.The machines were non-functional due to lack of maintenance.

The minister further said a proposal had been prepared for launching special schemes in the affected districts. He also assured to revive the non-functional iron extracting systems at the earliest.

UNI RS PL SKM1347