Jhunjhunu, October 11 (Udaipur Kiran News). Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said that on the call of the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi for water conservation-people’s participation, migrant Rajasthanis settled in other states have come forward to make their motherland water self-reliant. He said that we all should take a pledge to save every drop of rain water in every village and every field and provide a prosperous and secure future to the coming generations. Sharma on Saturday at Mandrela in Jhunjhunu district while meeting Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. He was addressing the water conservation-public participation-people’s movement program organized in the presence of Patil. He said that during the previous government, there were irregularities in the Jal Jeevan Mission in the state, on which our government took concrete action. He said that no one related to the irregularities in JJM will be spared.
The Chief Minister said that to ensure the availability of water, our government is working from Ram Jal Setu Link Project to water conservation and harvesting. He said that the previous government did not do any work to bring Yamuna water to Shekhawati region, whereas our government signed an MoU for Yamuna water agreement with the Haryana government as soon as it was formed and work on its DPR is going on. Similarly, our government signed an MoU with the Central and Madhya Pradesh governments for the Ram Jal Setu Link Project. This project will ensure availability of water for irrigation and drinking water in 17 districts of Eastern Rajasthan.
He said that whatever work we have done so far, the previous government could not do it during its entire tenure. Till now we have spent about Rs 13 thousand crores in water projects, whereas the previous government spent only Rs 4 and a half thousand crores in one and a half years. Similarly, 13 lakh new domestic tap connections have been given in one and a half year, whereas the previous government could give only two and a half lakh connections in one and a half year.
The Chief Minister said that our government is providing free sonography facility to pregnant women under the Ma Voucher Scheme and a savings bond of Rs 1.5 lakh on the birth of a girl child through the Lado Incentive Scheme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana and Pulses Self-Reliance Mission for farmer welfare. We have increased the amount of Kisan Samman Nidhi in the state to Rs 9 thousand. Besides, to economically empower the animal husbandry sector, it is providing subsidy to milk producers and loan under Gopal Credit Card Scheme.
Sharma said that in our government, without any paper leak, the youth of the state are getting ample opportunities for government jobs. About 91 thousand appointments have been given and the recruitment process for about 1 lakh 54 thousand posts is in various stages. Under the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit, MoUs worth Rs 35 lakh crore were signed and now work is being done to implement them rapidly. Due to which better employment opportunities are opening up in the private sector.
The Chief Minister said that the mansions of Shekhawati are the identity of our heritage. Our government is making every possible effort to conserve these havelis. The state government intends to make Shekhawati a major center of rural tourism. He said that under Amrit 2.0 scheme, drinking water will be provided to Mandrela town from Pilani-Malsisar-Suratgarh. On this occasion, he also announced Rs 1.25 crore to benefit Mandrela town from the fresh water of Kumbharam project.
Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil said that about 4 thousand BCM of rain water is available in our country, whereas our annual water requirement is about 1200 BCM. Keeping in mind the need for water harvesting, the Karmabhoomi to Matribhoomi campaign was started under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In this campaign, migrant brothers and sisters from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana are helping in building structures for water harvesting.
Patil said that no one can understand the need of water more than Rajasthan. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, unprecedented work is being done for water harvesting in Rajasthan and in the coming times Rajasthan will be known for water self-sufficiency in the entire country. During the previous government in Rajasthan, irregularities were committed in the campaign to provide tap water to every house. Those who snatch the right to water from the people of Rajasthan will not be spared under any circumstances.
Patil said that former Prime Minister Late. Atal Bihari Vajpayee conceived the concept of interlinking of rivers. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the work of linking rivers is being done in various states. The work of Ken-Betwa link project is going on in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Whereas the modified PKC ERCP (Ram Jal Setu Link Project) is being given concrete shape for Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. In the total cost of this project, 90 percent is shared by the Central Government and only 10 percent is shared by both the states.
The Union Jal Shakti Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, about 32 lakh water harvesting structures have been constructed in 611 districts across the country. In the last 8 months, 4 lakh 14 thousand structures have been built in Rajasthan. He said that 65 percent of MNREGA funds will be spent on rain water harvesting in dark zone districts and 40 percent in semi dark zone districts. The Central Government has made a provision of Rs 30 thousand crore for rain water harvesting in the entire country.
Public Health and Engineering Minister Kanhaiyalal Chaudhary said that during the previous government, the work of Jal Jeevan Mission was not done on time. He said that our government will ensure drinking water supply to every household of Shekhawati region through Kumbaram Lift Project and Yamuna Water Agreement.
On this occasion, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Avinash Gehlot, Vishwakarma Skill Development Board Chairman Ram Gopal Suthar, MLA Vikram Jakhal, Dharampal Gurjar, Rajendra Bhambu, Gordhan Verma, Shubhakaran Chaudhary, Santosh Ahlawat and other public representatives, officials and a large number of general public were present.
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/ Ramesh