The Jharkhand government has announced the scheme to connect each household with a tap in urban areas in a significant move towards enhancing urban infrastructure and public health. The government will contribute nearly ₹ 100 crore for strengthening water supply infrastructure in cities and towns, as part of this.
The decision aims to guarantee that inhabitants of municipal areas have access to clean and regular drinking water right at their homes. The Urban Development and Housing Department has reportedly asked local urban bodies to identify new areas that still don’t have water connections and draw detailed plans to expand water connections.
The project will be aimed at the installation of new water pipelines, water treatment plants, water reservoirs, and the repair of existing water pipelines, officials said. There are a number of towns in Jharkhand that are still facing the problem of water scarcity, particularly during the summer months, and people have to rely on handpumps and water tankers for water supply, or on the groundwater. The government’s new program aims to mitigate these issues and enhance people’s access to safe drinking water.
Moving to this place is also interpreted as taking the first step towards the vision of ‘Har Ghar Jal’ under the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to connect households to tap water in India. Though the central scheme targeted more rural areas in the beginning, the government has now stepped up its efforts to bring water facilities to the urban areas of Jharkhand, too.
The government has budgeted ₹100 crore for multiple water supply projects in urban areas, including the growth of water infrastructure and the improvement of existing infrastructure. The investment is expected to boost civic facilities and enable speedy urban growth in the state.
Clean tap water can have a significant impact on public health in terms of the reduction of water-borne disease, as well as enhanced hygiene, say experts. The project is also expected to benefit women and children, who have to spend hours collecting water in water-scarce areas.
In all, the project is expected to cater to a number of Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Urban Local Bodies in Jharkhand. The government has stressed the timely implementation and has also asked departments to closely watch the progress of the projects.
As the urban population grows, the state government is seeing the need for better drinking water infrastructure as a key need for sustainable development. If the scheme is implemented properly, it will be one of the major urban welfare schemes of the state in the future and provide a source of water for lakhs of households in the state.
