Over 2 lakh SC families get free water connection

Chandigarh, Mar 5 (UNI) Over two lakh households of Scheduled Castes in Haryana have so far been provided connections of drinking water free of cost under the Indira Gandhi Drinking Water Scheme.

A spokesman of Public Works (Water Supply and Sanitation) Department said that the scheme was launched in November, 2006.

It aimed at providing private water connection free-of-cost to eight lakh households of Scheduled Castes in rural as well as urban areas in the State.

He said that the implementation of the scheme would involve an estimated expenditure of Rs 340 crore. The scheme also aimed at giving a concession of 50 per cent to households of Scheduled Castes regarding payment of monthly water tariff.

He said that with a view to encourage private water connections to the households of general category, the connection fee of Rs 500 in villages and of Rs 1000 in urban areas has also been waived off.

UNI XC JN MMS1537