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Journalism of Courage
VADODARA, May 7: Water Resources Minister Narottam Patel has directed the Water Supply Department to expedite works on the delayed water works schemes worth Rs 30 crore in the district. The instructions were given at a programme held here on Thursday to redress grievances pertaining to water works schemes.
The Minister directed the authorities to complete by the year-end Rs 15 crore group water works scheme in Savli taluka which would benefit as many as 121 villages. Instructions were also issued to organise the inaugural function in January 1999.
Similarly, following representation by MLA Babarbhai Tadvi, the Minister issued directions to complete Rs 6 crore group water works scheme number 1 by December.
While he issued directions that the group water works schemes should be completed on a war-footing, he also asked the authorities to device a water works scheme for Chhotaudepur taluka by drawing water from rivers Sukhi and Orsang rather than concentrating on installing hand pumps.
The department was also asked to complete Rs 12 lakh scheme to provide water in Chhotaudepur city. The scheme was held up due to technical reasons, said president of Chhotaudepur Municipality Kaushik Shah. The authorities concerned were also asked to complete various water works schemes for the entire Chhotaudepur taluka.
Waghodia MLA Madhu Shrivastava brought to the department8217;s notice that the that group water works scheme in Waghodia taluka was held up for the last few years.
A suggestion to recharge wells was put forward by Raopura MLA Yogesh Patel. The Minister issued instructions that no delay should be caused in repairing hand pumps to ensure that the residents did not face water shortage in summer.
The Minister announced that the Government was planning to chalk out a master plan to tackle water shortage problem in rural areas. He was replying to representations by Vadodara MP Jayaben Thakkar, Padra MLA Jitsinh Parmar and Vadodara District Panchayat members Ravindra Patel and Dr Khumansinh Padhiyar.
Speaking on the occasion, District Collector Anil Mukim said work to implement a Rs 2.16 crore master plan for water in the district would be taken up soon.
District Panchayat president Kalyanbhai Patel, MP Narayanbhai Rathwa, MLAs Sukhram Rathwa, Mohansinh Rathwa and Dilubha Chudasama and, representatives from the District Panchayat were among those who attended the meeting.
