Punjab to focus on solar-powered water schemes

Punjab is planning to expedite the process of setting up solar-powered water supply schemes. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the initiative would go a long way in saving electricity on one hand and ensuring regular water supply in the villages on the other. He was informed that the department was mulling the installation of solar-powered schemes in 1,508 villages to achieve sustainability and self-sufficiency by generating 8,708kW capacity at a cost of Rs 60.50 crore. The CM also gave nod to digital adaptation in 1,731 villages, where schemes will be linked with the Internet of Things (IoT) and remote monitoring and operation of water supply will be done. He approved the launching of the pilot project worth Rs 106 crore in 93 villages and 100% coverage in 23 blocks. Mann also asked the department to roll on a digital initiative, mGram Seva - an application that was launched as a pilot project in 100 villages to ensure transparency and accountability in revenue collection and financial management. Mann was told that 99.63% of rural households have tap water connections under ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ and 20 out of 23 districts have achieved 100% coverage whereas on the sanitation side also state is open defecation free. As the state is facing water quality issues such as heavy metals, arsenic, fluoride, iron and uranium, and large surface water projects are coming up in Patiala, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Anandpur Sahib at cost of Rs 2,081 crore covering over 1,800 villages. Mann said special mitigation works for arsenic- and fluoride-affected areas should also be accorded top priority for ensuring the portable supply of water to people.