Hike Chhattisgarh share in Jal Jeevan Mission, urges CM Bhupesh Baghel

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday demanded that the central government share in the Jal Jeevan Mission, aimed at providing tap water to all rural households in the country by 2024, be increased for his state from the current 50 per cent to 75 per cent.

In a video conference meeting with Union Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhwat, Baghel said that presently, there is a provision of giving 50 percent of the amount under the mission by the central government and 50 percent bear by the state government.

The chief minister said that Chhattisgarh's population is in ideal condition but it is the ninth largest state in the country.

CM Bhupesh Baghel said that Chhattisgarh is a tribal state, it has a large area of forest and population is sparse many villages in Bastar and Surguja divisions of Chhattisgarh are spread over several square kilometers area. Therefore, every household here will have to spend more amount for drinking water through pipelines.

The Ccm said that there is not a large water body in tribal areas of the state, especially in Bastar. If every house has to be water pipeline connection, then water arrangements will also have to be made.

Referring to the state government's ambitious Narva, Garuva, Ghuruva, Bari scheme, the Chief Minister said that under the scheme, 30000 drains of the state will be revived and work has been started for 1100 drains at present for which, an action plan has been prepared scientifically using satellite maps. There will be no water scarcity for drinking water, irrigation and industrial activities through this scheme.

The chief minister said that state government has prepared an action plan and would work on mission mode to provide clean drinking water to every rural household through tap by 2024.

Union Minister Shekhawat assured to provide all possible support for the Jal Jeevan Mission. He said that funds received from the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA) and the 15th Finance Commission will be utilized for the purpose of providing water to every household.

The union minister said that the work of providing water through pipelines can be started in those villages having availability of water bodies and tanks for drinking water and it will also provide employment to the people.

State agriculture and water resources Minister Ravindra Choubey told Union Minister that arrangements have to be made to bring water from irrigation reservoirs to villages in Bastar region. Bodhghat irrigation project of Bastar region has been sent to the Central Water Commission for approval. The irrigation will begin in Naxal-affected Bijapur, Dantewada and Sukma districts and it will provide water for the Jal Jeevan Mission in these regions.

Choubey urged Union Minister Shekhawat for early approval of the Bodhghat project and centre's cooperation in resolving the water dispute between Chhattisgarh and state of Odisha .

He informed union minister about Narva, Garuva, Ghurva, Bari scheme and told him that water conservation and promotion works are being done through watwr sheds by forest department, panchayat and rural department.

Meanwhile, state Public Health Engineering (PHE) minister Guru Rudra Kumar said that an action plan has been prepared for all the districts in the state and there will be no shortage of resources for the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the 10 percent expenditure on water supply through pipelines in the villages will be bear by local community besides the contribution of the central and state government.

Chhattisgarh government told union minister Shekhawat that water supply is being done in 11 percent of the houses so far in the rural areas of Chhattisgarh.
Through this mission, water will be supplied from pipe line to 100 per cent houses.

Out of 43.17 lakh houses in rural areas in the state, water supply is being done so far in 4.82 lakh 82 houses only through pipelines and water will be supplied to 38.34 lakh homes through the Jal Jeevan Mission.