Fluoride Mitigation Centre to be set up in Gujarat

State asks Centre to allot special fund for drinking water supply in tribal areas under special scheme  

                                                                                         

Welcoming the Centre’s decision to set up a Fluoride Mitigation Centre in Gujarat, the State Government urged for financial assistance from the Central Government to meet increased demand for drinking water supply in the tribal areas under the group water supply scheme.

Gujarat Water Supply Minister Shri Nitinbhai Patel expressed gratitude to Union Minister Shri Jairam Ramesh who announced Gujarat will soon get a Fluoride Mitigation Centre, at the Conference of State Ministers and Secretaries of drinking water and sanitation held here.

Addressing the conference, Shri Patel demanded that Government of India should also give special fund to State for supplying clear drinking water to the population residing nearby urban areas (outgrowth area).

Shri Patel said the Government of Gujarat provides drinking water through hand pumps in tribal areas but with increasing demand the supply is required to be made through group water supply scheme. The Minister added that the State Government has already announced a sanction of Rs. 960 crore for this proposed scheme and urged the Union Minister that Government of India should also provide 50 percent financial assistance for this project.

Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi has accorded priority to improving water supply services in the state. The State Government made a budget provision of Rs. 672 crore for water supply in year 2003-04 which has been substantially increased to Rs. 2,500 crore in the year 2012-13. Shri Patel said the Government always ensures that fund requirement will be made available at all times for water development work.

Referring to PPP scheme in water supply sector, Shri Patel said that under the scheme, 17,790 (98 percent) Pani Samitis are functional in Gujarat and 8,696 village scheme works to achieve drinking water security.

 He further stated that the State Government is fully committed to provide adequate, regular and safe drinking water to the people through household tap water connectivity.  Gujarat has taken a number of short term as well as long term measures through ambitious drought proof plan to address drinking water scarcity. Success has been achieved through organisational structural changes made in drinking water sector. A paradigm shift was made from ground water to surface water, he added.

In last 10 years, 2240 km long pipelines have been laid down with diameter of more than two meters. Since a decade, 156 filtration plants were installed with 2810 million litres daily capacity. At present, 2,800 million litres water is being supplied in the state households daily through this grid.

Shri Nitinbhai Patel also appraised the work carried out by State Government in water harvesting sector with help of Gram Panchayats and NGOs. For excellence in water development related works, Gujarat bagged Prime Minister's award in 2008, UN award in 2009 and CAPAM award in 2010.

Shri Patel reiterated the State Government's main aim is to provide adequate, regular and safe water at door step. Today in Gujarat, 73.86 percent of rural population (based on 2001 census) has access to household tap water supply services. Demand for household tap water is increasing which indicates that people are more interested in community managed programme.

Shri H.K. Dash, Principal Secretary (Water Supply) also participated in the conference.