3,000 tapwater schemes ayed in MP

Bhopal, Mar 13 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Public Health Engineering Minister Chaudhry Chandrabhan Singh today said in the Assembly that, despite a drought situation in several parts of the state, potable water supply was the government's foremost priority and 3,000 tapwater schemes were sanctioned at Rs 600 crore.

Replying to a debate on budgetary demands for his department, he said, ''I ask the main opposition Congress members to urge the Centre to relax a rule whereby panchayats have been bestowed the responsibility of maintaining tapwater schemes.'' Checkdams, stopdams, percolation tanks have been constructed under a special focus on water-recharging.

A Rs 428-crore scheme was drafted to supply pure water to about 3,800 habitations and thereby tackle the flouride problem.

After the Minister's reply, demands pertaining to his department were passed.

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