Irrigation Minister for timely completion of projects

Shimla, Jan 31 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Irrigation and Public Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur today called upon the Irrigation and Public Health officers for timely completion of ongoing schemes and projects.

Addressing the officers of Irrigation and Public Health Department during the second review meeting here today, Mr Thakur said that the Management Information System was being implemented in the department by providing computers upto Sub-Divisional level in the entire state under the Central government scheme.

Mr Thakur said the website of the department had been launched to facilitate transparency and information about the departmental activities.

The Minister informed that government had decided to upgrade water testing laboratories and sanctioned some posts of laboratory staff under Hydrology project.

He said the Congress government in its election manifesto had made commitment to provide drinking water to all habitations by 2007-08. Out of 45,367 habitations, only 4080 were left to be covered with drinking water facility as on 1st April 2006.

The construction of structures for harvesting rain and snow water were being focused in view of continuous drought like situation, he said. The government was therefore, stressing sustainability measures through rooftop rain water harvesting structures in all institutional buildings. There were 72 rain water harvesting structures completed by the department and 64 were in progress in the state, he added.

He said the Cabinet had also decided to hand over 20 percent of water supply schemes to Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) instead of 10 percent.

UNI