HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, May 1: The ministry of Jal Shakti said on Monday that it is planning to constitute a Northeastern Water Management Authority for optimal use of the water resources in Northeastern states as soon as it is approved by the Parliament.
“I am confident that the Authority will be approved in the next Parliament session,” he said.
Union cabinet minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat while interacting with media persons in Guwahati said that the authority will also be helpful in providing technical support required in managing the water resources in the northeastern states.
The union minister further stated that the northeastern states have improved in implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Singh added that Assam has improved from 1 percent to 50 percent, as far as implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission is concerned. The minister stated, “By 2024, we are hopeful that the Northeast will achieve 100 per cent coverage”.
However, the minister said that after critically reviewing the progress in implementing Swachh Bharat Mission in the northeast with ministers and officials, he came to a conclusion that the states need to increase their pace in implementing Swachh Bharat Mission.
He underlined that after the country has been declared ‘open-defecation free’ under Swachh Bharat Mission, the country is moving forward in achieving complete sanitation under the second phase of Swachh Bharat Mission.
He further added that, at least some milestones have been achieved in 40 percent of the 6 lakh villages across the country under Swachh Bharat Mission. (With inputs from PTI)
