The North News
Chandigarh, May 20
In a significant push to improve access to clean drinking water in rural Punjab, the state government is set to launch two major schemes valued at around ₹315 crore. Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said on Tuesday that the first project—already approved—will see the augmentation and bifurcation of 144 rural water supply schemes across 22 districts, at a cost of ₹159.95 crore. The initiative is expected to bring safe potable water to 176 villages, benefiting around 305,000 people.
A second proposal, currently in the pipeline, targets the augmentation of 125 schemes in 21 districts during the 2025–26 financial year, costing ₹153.22 crore, he added. This effort aims to serve 175 villages, with a combined population of approximately 320,000, he further said.
“These projects are designed not only to ensure clean water supply but also to promote long-term sustainability and resilience in rural infrastructure,” Mundian said.
He emphasised that the schemes are about more than just basic amenities—they represent the state’s broader ambition to uplift rural communities. “Public health, social development, and economic empowerment go hand in hand,” he said, describing the water projects as essential to improving quality of life and reducing health disparities in Punjab’s villages.
The minister further noted that the government is “leaving no stone unturned” in delivering equitable development across all sections of society.
