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Jaipur, Oct 11 (IANS) Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil said Rajasthan, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, is setting new standards in water conservation and will soon emerge as a national model for water self-reliance.
He emphasized that no state understands the importance of water better than Rajasthan and the ongoing initiative under the ‘Jal Sanchay-Jan Bhagidari-Jan Andolan’ program will serve as an inspiration for the entire country.
Addressing the program at Mandrela in Jhunjhunu, Patil said that unprecedented work is being done to give importance to every drop of rain water in the state, while those responsible for irregularities in Jal Jeevan Mission during the tenure of the previous government will not be spared.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sharma said that on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for public participation in water conservation, migrant Rajasthanis and citizens from across the state are coming forward to make Rajasthan self-reliant in water matters.
He urged people to take a pledge to conserve rain water in every village and every farm for the prosperity of future generations.
Sharma was addressing the ‘Jal Sanchay-Jan Bhagidari-Jan Andolan’ program organized at Mandrela, Jhunjhunu, in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil.
He said there were serious irregularities in the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) during the tenure of the previous government.
“Our government has taken concrete action against those responsible and no one involved in JJM irregularities will be spared,” he said.
The Chief Minister announced that the government is making tireless efforts to ensure availability of adequate water through projects like Ram Jal Setu Link Project and new water conservation initiatives.
He said that the previous government did not make any efforts to bring Yamuna water to Shekhawati, but the present administration has signed an MoU with the Haryana government for Yamuna water agreement and work on its DPR is going on.
Similarly, an MoU has been signed with the Central Government and the Government of Madhya Pradesh for the Ram Jal Setu Link Project, which will ensure irrigation and drinking water supply in 17 districts of eastern Rajasthan.
Highlighting the achievements, the Chief Minister said, “We have achieved more in one and a half years than what the previous government was able to achieve in its entire tenure.”
He said that the government has already spent Rs 13,000 crore on water related projects, whereas the previous government had spent Rs 4,500 crore. Under Jal Jeevan Mission, 13 lakh new household tap connections have been provided in just one and a half years, whereas the previous government could provide only 1.75 lakh connections in the same period.
–IANS
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