Tuesday, June 5, 2018
  • Chandigarh, June 5 - Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal today called on Union Minister of State for Power, New and Renewable Energy, Mr. R.K. Singh at New Delhi today regarding providing adequate amount of water for drinking and irrigation purpose for Haryana.
  • Later, interacting with media persons, the Chief Minister said that discussions were held in the meeting regarding water regulation of Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB). He said that the Central Government would give top priority to policy regarding availability of drinking water by BBMB. The appointment of member belonging to Haryana in BBMB would soon be made.
  • He said that the Central Government was apprised about the drinking and irrigation water needs of Haryana. He said that as the level of water has gone down therefore the Board should be directed to maintain its proper water regulation. As the temperature is rising during summer season, assurance for supply of drinking water is needed.   He said that it was decided in the meeting that the first priority would be given to drinking water and then to irrigation.   
  • He said that the Centre would soon give grant of Rs 550 crore to Haryana under Smart Grid Power Scheme at Gurugram. He said that work was under progress on providing 24 hour power supply in Gurugram through Smart Grid Power Scheme.
  • The Chief Minister under the Mhara Gaon-Jagmag Gaon Yojana, 24 hour power is being supplied in five districts namely Gurugram, Faridabad, Sirsa, Ambala and Panchkula. Similarly, power is being supplied for 12 to 15 hours in some villages and for 18 to 21 hours in some places. He said that this scheme of Haryana has become very popular and even other states have also asking about this scheme.
  • Earlier, the Union Minister of State for Power, New and Renewable Energy, Mr. R.K. Singh said at present water availability is less. He said that this year 40 per cent less snowfall had taken place in hilly areas and due to supply of water for irrigation, the water level has reached dead level. In view of the availability of water level, ensuring drinking water availability would be first priority. Thereafter, water would be provided for irrigation and power purposes. In this regard, dialogue would also be held with Punjab Chief Minister. He said that penal has been formed for appointing of Haryana member in BBMB and soon the member would be appointed.
  • The Union Minister appreciated the Mhara Gaon-Jagmag Gaon scheme of Haryana. He said that this scheme would be presented in meetings with other states. He said that the Central Government is satisfied with the improvement made by Haryana in the field of energy. The State Government has reduced the line losses and brought them to about 20 per cent
  • Chandigarh, June 5—The Haryana Government would launch a campaign on the lines of the Ganga Bachao Andolan to save the water of Yamuna river. The state government has already approached the Centre and the Delhi Government to formulate a project to check the flow of polluted water of Delhi into Yamuna.
  • Disclosing this while interacting with media persons in New Delhi today, the Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal, said since the people of Vrindavan also had raised the demand for clean water, a campaign similar to Ganga Bachao Andolan would be launched to save the water of Yamuna.
  • He said the World Environment Day was being celebrated across the world and this year, Beat the Plastic Pollution is the theme and India the hosting country at UNO. To protect the environment, the Haryana Government has implemented a five-point programme under which students of government and private schools from Class 6 to Class 12 would plant one plant each at their house, school or nearby areas.
  • Adequate number of taps would be provided to prevent the wastage of water in the rural areas. Directions have been issued to the Public Health Engineering, Haryana Urban Development Authority and Haryana Urban Local Bodies Department in this regard.
  • The Chief Minister said working on the theme Beat the Plastic Pollution, the state government had banned single-use water bottles in all government offices. Now, only multi-use water bottles would be used.
  • Stressing the need for water recharging, he said  directions had been issued for the collection of rain water within three months in each government building of 10 municipal corporations and digging up of 1,000 pits for the purpose.
  • Halogen and sodium bulbs and tubelights would be replaced with energy-efficient LED bulbs and tubelights in the state. Bulbs and tubelights in government buildings would be replaced by August 15.
  • Answering a query regarding pollution in Gurugram and Faridabad, Mr Manohar Lal said several factors were reponsible for polluting the environment. These include traffic, burning of stubble in the fields, industrial pollution, construction works and others.
  • About 40,000 vehicles are now plying on the KGP Expressway after its inauguration. The diversion of traffic flow has reduced traffic in these areas and now the level of pollution would also come down, he added.
  • Chandigarh, June 5–Haryana is already supplying to Delhi 120 cusecs more than its allocation of water and will not be able to supply more up to June 30, 2018. Thereafter, the situation would depend on the availability of water.
  • This was conveyed by the Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal, when he met the Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, in New Delhi, today.
  • He apprised Mr. Gadkari about various water-related issues Haryana had with other states and sought his help in solving them. Mr Gadkari assured him that the Central Government would  help the Haryana Government in finding a solution to the water-related issues with other states.
  • Interacting with media persons after the meeting, the Chief Minister said discussion was also held with the Union Minister on various issues with Rajasthan, and other issues related to SYL and BML Hansi-Butana Branch. The Central Government would take up the SYL issue and there is a possibility of finding a solution to the issue of BML Hansi-Butana.
  • He urged the Central Government to accelerate the pace of construction works of dams namely, Renuka, Kisau and Lakhwar. With the construction of these dams, there will be more availability of water in Yamuna River.
  • The Chief Minister apprised Mr Gadkari about the written communication sent to the Punjab Chief Minister regarding construction of dams to stop the water that is flowing to Pakistan. The Central Government would discuss take up this matter with Punjab Government, he added.
  • Mr Manohar Lal also informed him about the shortage of water in southern areas of the state due to the construction of dams by Rajasthan on three rain-fed rivers namely, Krishna, Dohan and Sabi.