Tripura to draw PM's attention on water fund

Agartala, July 3 (UNI) The Tripura government has decided to draw the Prime Minster's attention over the long pending demand of funds for supplying purified water to entire population of the state during Rural Development Minister's two-day meeting beginning tomorrow at New Delhi.

Before his departure, Tripura Rural Development Minster Jitendra Choudhury told newsmen here today, apart from the demand of reviewing the procedure of beneficiary's contribution in Sajaldhara project, he would also insist on the clearance of the project.

The state government had forwarded a proposal of Rs 350 crores to the Union Rural Development Ministry a few months back to ensure the supply of purified water to the people of the state, as almost one-third of villages of Tripura are not getting pure water, Mr Choudhury revealed.

''We have ensured purified water supply only to 8000 villages and another 2675 villages are still getting direct water from deep tube wells, which increases the incidences of water-borne diseases,'' Mr Choudhury said.

The Centre had convened a two-day meeting with the state government in Delhi tomorrow to discuss the issues related to water problem and sanitation, he stated.

''We welcomed the Centre's water allocation of 40 litre per person per day but we need a number of small rigs to install water sources in hilly parts of the state, which is not available in the country besides, Rs 350 Crores.

UNI