Providing clean drinking water to all and irrigation water to every field is Govt’s priority: Agnihotri

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that providing clean drinking water to every citizen and ensuring irrigation water reaches every agricultural field is a top priority of the State government, and to fulfill this objective, the Jal Shakti Department is working tirelessly. Mukesh Agnihotri was addressing the state-level ‘Jal Mahotsav’ ceremony, organized on the occasion of World Water Day, in Baddi of Doon Assembly constituency in Solan district, today.

On this occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister commended the officers and employees of the Jal Shakti Department for working 24/7 and expressed hope that the department would continue to work relentlessly to ensure water reaches everyone.

During the event, he announced a grant of Rs. two crore each for the augmentation and installation of various tube wells across the Doon and Nalagarh Assembly Constituencies. Of this amount, Rs. one crore will be provided by the Jal Shakti Department, while the remaining Rs. one crore will be contributed by the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Development Authority for each Assembly Constituency. He further gave an assurance that 50 additional posts each would be filled in the Doon and Nalagarh Assembly Constituencies to ensure the smooth functioning of the Jal Shakti Department in these areas. He noted that, previously, 45 posts each had been filled in these two constituencies.

The Deputy Chief Minister stated that the issue regarding the tendering process for the four-laning of the Nalagarh-Baddi National Highway would be raised with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to ensure that the project commences expeditiously. He added that the matter concerning the improvement of the highway stretch connecting Kalka in Haryana to Baddi in Himachal Pradesh would also be presented before the Union Transport Minister.

Mukesh Agnihotri announced that the state government is currently procuring 297 electric buses and 250 diesel buses. As per requirements, a portion of these buses will be allocated to serve the Doon and Nalagarh Assembly Constituencies.

Additionally, the Deputy Chief Minister gave an assurance that the Joharji Mela in the Doon Assembly Constituency would be elevated to the status of a district-level fair. He issued instructions to explore the feasibility of extending the Himachal Road Transport Corporation’s Shimla and Ramshahr bus services up to Sai, as well as expanding the Kuthar bus service.

He stated that the Doon Assembly Constituency serves as the financial capital of the State. This region is highly important, representing a blend of both hilly and plain terrains. The daily water requirement for this Assembly Constituency stands at 1.6 million liters.

He said that approximately 500 tube wells have been established in the Baddi and Nalagarh regions to fulfill water-related requirements.

The Deputy Chief Minister stated that the Jal Shakti Department is currently implementing 10,000 schemes across the state to ensure the availability of clean drinking water and adequate irrigation water for the people. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, projects worth Rs. 6,000 crore have been executed within the state. Furthermore, claims amounting to Rs. 1,227 crore, pertaining to various schemes of the state’s Jal Shakti Department, are currently pending with the Centre Government.

He stated that a comprehensive scheme worth Rs. 2,000 crore is being formulated to ensure the provision of clean water across all Assembly Constituencies in the State. Additionally, various schemes are being implemented for the augmentation, remodeling and groundwater recharging of existing water infrastructure.

Mukesh Agnihotri emphasized that water is the very foundation of life and urged everyone to lend their support to the efforts being undertaken by the State government towards water conservation.

He directed officials to ensure adequate preparedness regarding water supply across the state, specifically including the Doon and Nalagarh Assembly constituencies, during the summer season and to ensure that alternative arrangements are put in place wherever necessary.

Mukesh Agnihotri reiterated that the state government is working diligently to extend the reach of clean drinking water to every single Gram Panchayat. The distribution of this water is to be ensured at the Gram Panchayat level. He further stated that water is being provided free of cost at the rural level.

On this occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister inaugurated an exhibition organized by the Jal Shakti Department and urged everyone to utilize this exhibition as an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the Department’s operational mechanisms. On this occasion, women who have performed outstanding work in the field of water management were honored with the ‘Neer Nari Samman’, diligent employees of the department were presented with commendation certificates for their continuous, round-the-clock service and Gram Panchayat Basal and Gram Panchayat Panjehra were felicitated for successfully undertaking the complete responsibility for the operation and maintenance of water supply schemes.

Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary welcomed the Deputy Chief Minister and other guests, and presented the demands of his Assembly Constituency. He urged for the approval of various water supply schemes within the Doon constituency, the filling of vacant posts in the Jal Shakti Department, the introduction of bus services in the region as per local requirements and the securing of World Bank approval for the Detailed Project Report, valued at Rs. 215 crore, for the Barotiwala-Banlagi-Solan road project.

Nalagarh MLA Hardeep Singh Bawa requested for approval of various schemes to ensure the provision of drinking water and irrigation water supply within the Nalagarh Assembly Constituency.

Vice Chairman of the State Water Management Board Shashi Sharma provided detailed information regarding the department’s functioning and various schemes.

Senior Congress leader and former President of the Baddi Municipal Council Madan Lal Chaudhary presented the vote of thanks.

Engineer-in-Chief of the Jal Shakti Department Anju Sharma presented a comprehensive overview of the department’s activities, noting that 72 water testing laboratories have been established across the state to ensure the availability of clean drinking water. She also emphasized the conservation of traditional water sources.

Chief Engineer of the State Water Sanitation Mission Hemant Tanwar provided details regarding World Water Day and the state-level commemoration.

On this occasion, cultural programs focusing on water conservation and other themes were presented by the Jhankar Musical Group and the Parvatiya Lok Kala Manch.

Senior functionaries of the Congress Party, Chief Executive Officer of the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Development Authority and Commissioner of the Baddi Municipal Corporation Sonakshi Singh Tomar, Superintendent of Police Baddi Vinod Dhiman and other senior officers of Jal Shakti Vibhag and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.