early Times report
kathua, Jan 22: Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, ShamLal Sharma has said that Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) have greater
responsibilities to monitor and maintain services, for which the Government has already identified their role and jurisdictions.
"The real sense of democracy can only be prevailed at the ground level when the Panchayat functionaries give their hundred per cent and full-fill the mandate enshrined in the Panchayati Raj Act, he added. The Minister was speaking at a one-day training-cum-awareness camp on the water sanitation, which was jointly organized by National Development Foundation an NGO, and Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU), here today. Maintaining that water sanitation and conservation is a matter of prime concern; the Minister said that a joint effort is required to address this issue. He said Government has been making its effort to involve all stakeholders, especially, the PRIs who are mandated to create awareness amongst the rural masses about the water sanitation and its judicious use. The Government has constituted Village Sanitation Committees (VSCs) to ensure safe drinking water after necessary water testing through the water testing kits being provided by the Government. On the point of conservation and judicious use of water, the Minister said that Government has formulated a proposal to upgrade and restore the traditional water sources under sustainability programme, besides this government has decided to develop 10 check dams in every PHE Division.
Congress MP, Ch Lal Singh also addressed the gathering and stressed the need for stepping up efforts for creating awareness amongst the masses about the water sanitation and its proper conservation and judicious use. He demanded conservation of traditional sources of water, up-gradation of existing water supply schemes, especially in the dry belt to overcome the water paucity.
Various speakers address the gathering and highlighted the importance of water sanitation and role of the civil society and other stakeholders on the subject. Chief Engineer, Ravi Tawi Irrigation, Hem Chander Jerath, Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control, SushilAima, Additional DC, Kathua, Rajesh Sharma, S.P. Kathua, Mohan Lal, State Coordinator CCDU, Dr Narinder Butyal, Chief Functionary, NDF, Rajiv Khajuria, Sarpanchs, Panchs and prominent citizens of Kathua were present on the occasion. |
