NewZNew (S A S Nagar) : District S A S Nagar has become the first district of Punjab state for providing private water connections of drinking water and very soon it will become the first district having individual water works for each village. Stating this, Executive Engineer (Rural) Water Supply & Sanitation Department Sh. Sukhvinder Singh Pandher said that private water connections to each household in the villages are being provided.

Sh. Pandher said that Rs. 55 crore 62 lacs 67 thousands have been spent under World-Bank project for providing drinking water supply schemes in the villages and Water works worth Rs. 9 crore 13 lac 43 thousand are under construction in 25 villages. Sh. Pandher said that various water supply schemes have been handed over to the villages after forming water supply & sanitation committees and the committees thus formed operates & maintains the scheme with the help of department of water supply & sanitation. All these schemes are having private water connections more than 70%. He said that the revenue has also increased with increase in private water connections.

Executive engineer water supply & sanitation said that 24 hr. water supply is being provided to 7 villages in the district. As such, SAS Nagar is the only village providing continuous water supply to 7 villages in the district. Sh. Pandher said that to make the schemes self sustainable water meter have been installed to the houses having private connections. In this regard Rs. 116.71 lacs have been spent. Executive engineer (Rural) water supply & sanitation said that during the current financial year rs. 11 crore 79 lacs 49 thousand have been spent for providing sewerage system in 8 villages. Also to maintain healthy environment Sewerage treatment Plants have also been installed for these villages.