Face2News/Chandigarh  

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Water Supply and Sanitation Department has achieved major targets in providing clean drinking water and better sanitation facilities to the rural population in the year 2024. 

Disclosing the achievements of the department during the year, Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Hardip Singh Mundian said that under ‘Har Ghar Jal’ scheme, Punjab has become the fifth state in the country to provide 100 percent piped water supply to rural households. To address the issues of water quality and water scarcity, 15 major canal water projects covering 1706 villages are underway of Rs. 2174 Cr. These projects will benefit about 25 lakh population and 4 lakh families.

Mr. Mundian further said that all the villages of the state have achieved ODF (open defecation free) status under Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural). A total of 5.64 lakh individual household latrines and 1340 community toilets have been constructed. More than 10435 villages of Punjab have become ODF Plus (desirable) and 1289 villages have achieved ODF Plus (model) status. Waste management facilities have been provided in 3366 villages for solid waste management and 9909 villages for grey-water management. 

The Minister said that a network of 31 NABL accredited water testing labs is operational. Apart from this, two mobile water testing labs are currently testing water on the spot in villages. There is one NABL accredited operational laboratory in each district. 

Mr. Mundian further said that with the support of PEDA, 20 biogas plants have been set up at the district level for managing cow dung in cow sheds. About 23 plastic waste management units have been set up at the block level for managing plastic waste in rural areas.