Punjab govt to cleanse canal water

Moga, Jun 4 (UNI) Concerned about the increasing level of pollution in the canals particularly those flowing in the Malwa belt, the Punjab government has launched a scheme to provide 'safe'water both for human consumption as well as for irrigation purposes.

''Under this scheme the government intends to treat the water in the canal basins'', state Public Health minister Avtar Henry today said while interacting with the media.

He said that to make a begining 21 filteration plants are being installed in the basins of various canals.During the current financial year about hundred such plants would be installed, he added.

He said that under the plans for providing safe drinking water in the rural areas the government has during the last four years covered 3307 villages. Another 2053 villages had been partially covered. Besides during this period 2453 schools were also covered.

The Minister said that during the last four years, a World Bank assisted project for providing and augmentation of water supply scheme alongwith environmental sanitation works was launched in 6500 villages. The work on this project was still on, he added.

UNI XC HS RP HT1428