Punjab govt finalises blueprint for civic works

CHANDIGARH, June 23: Punjab government today finalised the proposed blueprint for urban and rural mission which includes work on sewerage, water supply, sewerage treatment plant, cemented streets, and mechanised cleanliness system along with other basic amenities. Presiding over a high level meeting here, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal asked the authorities to complete the work within the stipulated timeframe, an official spokesperson said. Badal said no city, town or village of the state should be without adequate supply of potable water, sewerage and STP facilities even as directed that within one year each household in the state should have water as well as sewerage connection. The approved plans will cost Rs 8,086 crore. Finalising the action plan for providing 100 percent cover of basic amenities in urban and rural areas, Badal asked Secretary Local Bodies to put the project on expeditious mode to complete the works in time. He also said that zone-wise clusters should be made for cleanliness and sanitation purposes. The Deputy CM proposed that a 'Water meter policy' should be devised for installation of meters in all houses in the state and directed that technical experts should be hired on contract basis who will act as quality analysts and oversee the progress of all works. He also directed that a third party audit should be done to oversee the progress of the works. It was also informed in the meeting that the projects would be completed before September 2016, since the work of water supply, sewerage was on advanced stage of completion whereas in 40 another towns water supply work was completed while sewerage and STP works were under progress, an official spokesman said. The meeting informed that 46 towns have sewerage systems while the water supply, repair of roads, upgradation or roads, provision of solid waste management, street light would be initiated soon. The deputy chief minister also asked the authorities to execute the proposed plan well in time besides ensuring uniformity and quality of the material being procured and used, the spokesperson said.