Deepak Dubey

Water is the lifeline. Life has cropped up from water and is sustained by it. The Madhya Pradesh government has recognised importance of water. Therefore, top priority has been given to drinking water schemes in the state. As a result of Madhya Pradesh government's efforts during the last four years, maximum population of the state is getting neat and clean drinking water. It has been state government's determination right since the beginning that people get clean and adequate drinking water.

Soon after inception of the government in 2003, the process of Bhopal's much-awaited Narmada Water Supply Scheme was launched with stone-laying ceremony. Overcoming several unseen and unavoidable hurdles, this scheme is going to see light of the day now. Not only the cities, but the state government has also paid ample attention on the rural areas vis-à-vis supply of clean drinking water during these four years. Due to political will and vision, supply of clean drinking water is being ensured in the remotest village of the state.

Serious thought has been given by the Public Health Engineering Department also to increase the sources of clean drinking water apart from increasing underground water table. Due to wanton use of water resources by the people to quench their thrust, underground water table has sunk alarmingly. All the previous governments had centred their attention on base their schemes meant for supplying clean water on underground water resources. During that period either tube wells were dug or schemes based on wells were chalked out. Due to advancement in the techniques to lift water from deep tube wells from agricultural purpose and extension of electric supply to more and more areas also adversely affected the underground water resources.

State's central and western areas have been worst affected by over-exploitation of underground water resources. The situation has become so grave in many districts that tube wells have gone dry and water supply schemes have come to screeching halt.

This is no doubt the gravest problems facing Madhya Pradesh and Public Health Engineering Department has swung into action to tide over this grave situation. For the first time under 11th Five-Year Plan, efforts for recharging underground water table whereas level-water schemes are also being implemented more intelligently. The state government has chalked out many plans to augment the underground water resources during the next one year.

Regional Rainwater Conservation and Recharging Scheme has been launched by the state government with a view to recharge underground water resources by tapping the rainwater which used to go waste as it was flushed away by rivers and rivulets during the monsoon season. This scheme has been implemented in the rural and urban areas in the schools and hostels. Now roof water conservation scheme is being ensured in the new urban colonies.

Four years, many achievements

Public Health Engineering Department has undertaken several important tasks during 2003-2007 for ensuring better drinking water supply in urban as well as rural areas.

Drinking water arrangements have been made in 18,524 habitats which have no water resource and 20,544 habitats which have water resources partly. During these four years, drinking water was provided to children in 32,925 rural schools of the state. In all, 1119 water tap supply schemes were implemented in the same period. Alternative water supply arrangements were made in 627 habitats hit by excess fluoride and 40 habitats where water resources were undrinkable. Under Swajaladhara Yojana, the department completed 754 schemes. In all, 84,550 hand pumps were dug during these years taking the total number of hand pumps in the state to 3 lakh 93 thousand and 605 which are constantly and properly maintained.

Under Samagra Swachchhata Abhiyan (Total Sanitation Campaign) 7 lakh 35 thousand 44 latrines were built for people living below poverty line and 39,317 latrines in the rural areas. Under Nirmal Gram Puraskar Yojana, Bachhera village of Indore was declared the first Nirmal Gram in the state in the year 2006 while in 2007 as many as 190 village Panchayats were given Nirmal Gram awards.

Under Central Accelerated Urban Water Supply Scheme, clearance to start 19 new projects was received from the Union government. Under these projects, 40 schemes have been given administrative sanction by the state government. All the 40 schemes have been completed during the term of the present state government and 11 urban water supply schemes have been completed under general projects.

Almost 95 per cent work of laying the sewer line in Gwalior under Rs 58.50 crore (revised estimated cost) under Mal Jal Nikasi Pariyojana has been completed. So far, Rs 55.25 crore has been spent on the project.

Rs 240 crore administrative sanction was given on February 5, 2005 for Drinking Water Scheme based on Narmada river with a view to fulfill 5-year-old demand of Bhopal residents. Under the project water from Narmada river is to be pumped with the help of a 1400 mm diametre pipeline for a 300 metre head from Shahganj near Hirni village up to Bhopal city. Under the project 185 MLD extra water supply is to be made under the estimated population of 27.50 as on 2002. Tenders have been invited for this project and tenders amounting to Rs 274.40 crore have been sanctioned and work has been started. For the project 32.89 hectares of forest land is to be acquired out of which 11.90 hectare land falls in Ratapani sanctuary. Now the honourable Supreme Court has given a go-ahead to start work in the areas falling under Ratapani sanctuary. In addition, 7.772 hectare revenue land and 2.98 hectare private land has been acquired. The formalities for starting work of laying the pipeline along National Highway have been completed and an approval to this effect is likely to be received shortly.

Public Health Engineering Department implemented many works during Sinhastha-2004 for supplying drinking water and flushing out sewage water under Kshipra Purification Scheme. The department ensured complete and foolproof drinking water arrangements at the Mela which was participated by lakhs of people.

The Union government's Forest and Environment Department had sanctioned projects for pollution control in 11 cities of the state which were to be implemented by Public Health Engineering Department. Under this project 26 schemes were to be implemented in 11 cities. Out of these 22 schemes have been completed and only four schemes are outstanding which would be completed soon. Major works completed by the department include construction of two sewage purification plants of the respective capacities of 78 MLD and 12 MLD at Indore and Kshipra Purification Project in Ujjain.

Full funds under this project are provided through Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board by the central government and the schemes are conducted and maintained after completion by the concerned civic bodies.

Next one year and future strategy

Almost all the drinking water supply scheme implemented so far are centred on underground water resources, majority of them tube wells and rest well-based schemes.

During the last many years underground water has been used to the hilt in the state following digging of deep tube wells in the wake of advancement in technology and extension of power supply facility for agricultural purpose. As a result the underground water resources have been very adversely affected.

Central and western Madhya Pradesh districts are the worst sufferers of this grim situation. To overcome this problem works for recharging underground water resources have been proposed on one hand and on the other hand ground-level based water supply schemes are also being implemented.

Hand pumps schemes are maintained by the department. Therefore, these schemes would be further strengthened and made more effective. The monitoring system for this would also be streamlined. Tap water supply schemes are being conducted by village Panchayats. Therefore, efforts would be undertaken to enhance the capacity of Panchayats. The water supply schemes to be implemented in the areas affected by excess of fluoride or iron in water, would be implemented as per the norms set by the central government. For this purpose necessary provisions are being made.

A Drinking Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Programme is also being launched for ensuring supply of drinking water as per the laid down standards of quality. Under this programme employees would be given required training through field kits and then this work would be implemented at the Panchayat level in the years to come. This programme, to be implemented through public participation would ensure 100 percent inspection of drinking water resources at the Panchayat level. During the next one year one thousand new Rural Water Tap schemes would be taken up in all the districts.

The department has started rooftop rainwater conservation and recharging schemes and recycling of dirty water in the schools and hostels of rural areas also. Works for augmenting drinking water facilities would also be undertaken in rural Harijan\Adivasi Hostels\Ashrams.