Saini reviews progress of Public Health Engineering Dept projects

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday chaired a high-level review meeting on key budget announcements of the Public Health Engineering Department and issued instructions that the department must complete all pending projects within the stipulated timelines. He said the government’s priority was to ensure that citizens received basic amenities promptly and effectively and thus, every officer was required to work with urgency and responsibility.

Officials informed the CM that under the Mahagram Yojana, work to provide urban-level drinking water and sewerage facilities in 12 selected villages was progressing rapidly. The drinking water and sewerage network has already been completed in Bhora Kalan (Gurugram), Bhainswal Kalan (Sonepat) and Khambi (Palwal). The remaining work in two other villages will be completed by December 31.

The Chief Minister was also apprised that 23 cities had been identified to lay 150 km of new sewer lines. Of these, 100 km of sewer lines have already been laid, and the remaining work will be completed within the next three months.

The Chief Minister said the government’s rationale was to stop the unnecessary extraction of groundwater to meet the rising demand for drinking water and to promote maximum utilisation of treated wastewater. He directed all departments concerned to work in coordination and prioritise recycling and reusing projects.

It was informed in the meeting that the treated wastewater generated from STPs (Sewage Treatment Plants) set up by the Public Health Engineering Department in various cities was being supplied to industrial units and the Irrigation Department, thereby reducing the consumption of fresh water in both industry and agriculture. The Chief Minister directed that further possibilities in this direction be explored and 100 per cent reuse of treated wastewater be ensured.

The CM said water conservation and water management were among the biggest future challenges.

The meeting also included a detailed review of the CM’s announcements related to the department, and a progress report was presented. The Chief Minister instructed that all promises made in the announcements must be fulfilled within the stipulated time frame. He said officers must monitor progress regularly and complete all necessary procedures at the earliest.

The meeting was attended by Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Rajesh Khullar, Commissioner and Secretary of the Public Health Engineering Department Mohammad Shayin, along with other senior officials.