Piped water to all rural households by 2024: Government

Government to launch rural piped water scheme

Taking note that more than 80 percent rural households in the country are yet to get piped water supply, the government plans to launch a new mission to ensure water from the tap for each house in villages in the next five years. Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced that Jal Jeevan Mission for 14 crore households will be launched soon. Under the scheme, the government plans to provide piped water to villages where the quality of water is good. In villages with poor water quality, however, a trunk water supply system will be arranged. 

Looming drought, farm distress top issues at the NITI Aayog meeting

At the governing council meeting of NITI Aayog, looming drought and farmer distress were the key issues the chief ministers sought answers for from the Centre. While the Karnataka CM urged to increase funds for rural drinking water schemes, the Madhya Pradesh CM stressed on the need for nationwide agricultural reforms and water conservation. Rajasthan demanded to designate the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) as a national project and Assam emphasised on the need for effective disaster management. States like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, Odisha, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu demanded effective management of water resources. 

Tamil Nadu to restore its water bodies at Rs 499.68 crore

To tackle the severe water crisis in the state, the Tamil Nadu government has announced a scheme, worth Rs 499.68 crore, for the traditional restoration of water bodies. The scheme would be implemented in 29 districts with support from farmers and ayacutdars (users). This is the third time that the funds are being sanctioned by the state government towards the scheme that was launched in January 2016 with participatory approach on a pilot basis. So far, 979 identified projects have been completed. The scheme focuses on the strengthening of tank bund, desilting of the supply channel, surplus course, repair and reconstruction of sluices, weirs, repair and renewal of shutters, rehabilitation and desilting of canals. 

PM Modi requests gram pradhans to conserve rainwater

Taking note of the looming water crisis in rural areas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written letters to Gram Pradhans urging them to conserve rainwater during the forthcoming monsoon. The letters, written in Hindi with a personal touch, will be hand-delivered to the pradhans through respective district magistrates and collectors. In his letter, the PM has made a special request to the pradhans to convene a meeting of their gram sabhas wherein his message should be read out. He has also suggested constructing check dams and ponds where proper harvesting of rainwater can be done. 

Kaleshwaram project to be inaugurated on June 21

The Telangana government will inaugurate the Rs 80,000 crore Kaleshwaram mega irrigation project on June 21. The project is expected to irrigate 18.24 lakh acres of land in the state, provide 56 TMC (1000 million cubic feet) of drinking water and another 10 TMC for industrial purposes. A total of about 225 TMC of water, including 180 TMC from the Godavari river basin and the rest through other projects, will be drawn through the project. The scheme has crossed several hurdles including protesting locals who refused to give up their land for the project. 

This is a roundup of important policy matters from June 12 - 18, 2019. Also, read news this week.