Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched the ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain’ campaign on World Water Day via video conferencing from Delhi. He said that the campaign would be undertaken across the country, in both rural and urban areas, with the theme “Catch the Rain, where it falls, when it falls”. It would be implemented from 22nd March 2021 to 30 November 2021 in the country and would be launched as peoples’ movement to take water conservation at the grass-root level through peoples’ participation, he said.
While presiding over the State Level World Water Day function at Kuthah ground near Janjehli in Seraj Vidhan Sabha area of Mandi district today Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur announced that atleast one ‘Water Harvesting Structure’ would be constructed in every Jal Shakti Sub-Division of the State for rainwater harvesting and water conservation during the Golden Jubilee year of Statehood.
Chief Minister said that the State Government has taken this decision as per the call of the water conservation of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure water conservation and rain water harvesting in the State. He also urged the elected representatives of the State to ensure water conservation and rain water harvesting in the State. To check the quality of water, a special campaign would be launched in the first fortnight of June, under which samples of water to be taken in villages, schools and anganwadi centers would be tested in the laboratory, he added.
Jai Ram Thakur said that cleanliness drive for cleaning all sources of water would be launched from 2nd to 31st October this year on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, He said that the objective of these programs is to make the ‘Water Quality and Conservation’ campaign a mass movement. He said that this year the State was celebrating the Golden Jubilee year of Statehood and various events on ‘Water Quality and Conservation’ were being held from 25th January, 2021 to 24th January, 2022 by the State Jal Shakti Department. He said that special Gram Sabhas would be held in all the 3615 panchayats of the State in which Village Action Plan would be approved and Village Water and Sanitation Committee would be constituted. He said that when the present State Government assumed the reins of the State, Shimla town suffered major water crisis. He said that it was then the State Government decided to construct Rs 80 crore Water supply scheme for Shimla town which was completed within a year.
Chief Minister said that the people of State in general and people of Mandi in particular would miss late Ram Swaroop Sharma as he had always taken up the developmental demands and aspirations of the people of the area during his tenure of Member of Parliament. He thanked the people of the State for their wholehearted support to the present State Government. He said that it was due to the benevolence of the people of the State that BJP has won all the elections and bye elections held in the State during the present BJP Government He said that the Government was committed to develop Janjheli as one of the major tourist attraction of the State.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government has launched several schemes for the welfare of the people of the State. He said that the Government has decided to provide old age pension of Rs 1000 to all the old women between the age group of 65 years to 69 years. He said that ‘Shagun scheme’ has been launched to provide Rs 31,000 ‘Shagun’ to daughters of poor families during their marriage. He said that the State Government was celebrating 50 years of Statehood in a befitting manner and a Swarnim Rath Yatra would be held throughout the State highlighting the developmental journey of the State.
Chief Minister also launched ‘HP Water Bills Mobile App’ to enable the citizens to pay their water bill issued by the State Jal Shakti Department through their mobile phones. He said that this App has been developed by the State NIC and would help the consumers to pay their bills using debt cards, Credit cards, and UPI etc. This App would facilitate about 13.5 lakh consumers of the State from 1st May, 2021.
Jai Ram Thakur also administered ‘Jal Sapath’ on the occasion regarding water conservation. He interacted with the representatives of few panchayats through video conferencing regarding water conservation. He also interacted with the consumers on the occasion.
Chief Minister also distributed prizes to winning students of painting and slogan writing competitions organized by Jal Shakti Department. He also distributed water testing kits the women representatives of various panchayats.
Jai Ram Thakur also launched ‘Seraji Tea’ on the occasion, an initiative by a local NGO. Later, the Chief Minister inaugurated Office Building of Executive Engineer PWD Seraj at Janjehli and Science Block of Government Senior Secondary School Janjehli constructed at a cost of Rs 2.78 crore and Rs. 2.50 crore respectively. He also laid foundation stone of Bus Stand Janjehli to be constructed by spending an amount of Rs 4.22 crore.
Two minutes silence was also observed on the occasion as a mark of respect to the Member of Parliament Mandi parliamentary area late Ram Swaroop Sharma, who died recently. Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh Thakur while welcoming the Chief Minister said that World Water Day was being celebrated worldwide to underline the importance of water conservation. He said that it becomes duty of of us to conserve water and ensure rainwater harvesting. He said that the present State Government led by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has ensured balanced and equitable development of the State. He said that it was usually a tradition that the political parties used to expedite development only during the fag-end of their tenure, but the Chief Minister from day one has started developmental works of the State. He said that the Jal Jeevan Mission has proved a boon to the people of the State and the State Government has made best progress in the Mission.
