Jaipur: State govt has allocated more than Rs 200 crore to ensure adequate drinking water supply in urban and rural areas during the peak summer months, with separate provisions made for both regions and additional support for water transport in vulnerable localities.“The allotted fund has also been distributed between the urban and rural areas. For urban areas, the estimated allocation is Rs 55 crore, while for the rural areas it is Rs 154.83 crore,” stated an official of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Tuesday.Apart from this, the govt has earmarked more than Rs 100 crore for transport of water (TOW) initiatives, mainly aimed at serving last-mile localities facing supply challenges. PHED officials said the programme will be implemented across all 41 districts from April 1 to July 31. “While for the urban areas Rs 23 crore have been allotted, another Rs 82.37 crore have been allotted for rural areas,” the official added.To prepare for the summer season, the govt has set up control rooms at the state level and in every district. These are intended to help maintain uninterrupted supply of clean and adequate drinking water and ensure quick resolution of complaints and supply-related issues.The govt has approved the engagement of 500 labourers per month and 100 hired vehicles per month from March 1 to March 31. For the period beginning April 1, approval has been granted for 2,000 labourers per month and 400 hired vehicles per month, while from May 1 to July 31, 2,500 labourers per month and 450 hired vehicles per month will be deployed.District-level contingency funding has also been sanctioned. “For contingency works the govt sanctioned Rs 1 crore to each of the 41 districts. The respective district collectors will be responsible for utilization of this fund. Acting on instructions of the collectors, additional chief engineers will undertake necessary works related to drinking water arrangements,” another official added.Under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the department has sanctioned Rs 25 lakh for each district for operation and maintenance of completed water supply schemes.
