Revolutionary change in water supply in Punjab, clean water will reach every village through 205 schemes

Punjab Water Supply: Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has invested more than Rs 2,900 crore to strengthen water supply and sanitation infrastructure across the state.

improving people’s daily lives

He said that this huge investment has significantly helped in early completion of major projects, expansion of new technologies and strengthening of water quality and sanitation systems, resulting in significant improvement in the daily living standards of people in rural and semi-urban areas.

Provided safe and clean drinking water

He said that at present, safe and clean drinking water is being provided to more than 34 lakh families in the state with 100 percent coverage. The Cabinet Minister said that the Punjab Government has approved an annual plan of Rs 2,190.80 crore for the sanitation sector under rural development for the financial year 2025-26.

Punjab becomes the fifth state of the country

The Cabinet Minister said that Punjab has already achieved the target of supplying clean water through tap water to every household in rural areas, making Punjab the fifth state in the country to achieve this feat. He said that to ensure supply of clean water in areas affected by water quality, special attention has been given to 15 major surface water supply projects, covering 1706 villages.

Of these, four projects have already been commissioned, while 11 projects are nearing completion. He further said that these projects will overall benefit about 25 lakh rural families by ensuring reliable surface water supply.

Lakhs of rural residents got benefits

The Water Supply and Sanitation Minister said that during the current financial year, 205 rural water supply schemes have been completed at a cost of Rs 278.37 crore, which has enabled the supply of clean water with adequate pressure and has benefited about 2.33 lakh rural residents.

Proposal for upgradation of 98 schemes

He informed that a project worth Rs 160 crore has been approved for 144 water supply schemes covering 176 villages, which is likely to be completed by 2026-27. This will benefit approximately 3.04 lakh rural residents. Apart from this, the proposal for upgradation of 98 schemes covering 127 villages in 19 districts, with an estimated cost of Rs 105 crore, is under the process of approval.

Foundation stone of water supply and sewerage works

The Cabinet Minister said that recently the foundation stone of upgradation of water supply and sewerage works in the historic city of Sri Muktsar Sahib at a cost of Rs 140 crore has been laid by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, which will further strengthen the infrastructure plan based on synergy between urban and rural areas.

Plans web and mobile app-based dashboard

He said that in the current year, special emphasis has been laid on technology-based governance, under which IoT-based automation and monitoring system has been implemented in 346 water supply schemes covering 897 villages. These schemes are linked to web and mobile app-based dashboards that track operational parameters in real-time and ensure prompt response and improved delivery of services.

NABL accredited laboratories

The Cabinet Minister said that a strong institutional framework has been established for water quality monitoring through a three-tier network of laboratories, which includes one state-level, seven regional-level, 17 district-level and seven block-level laboratories. All laboratories are NABL accredited for chemical testing, while seven laboratories also have facilities for bacteriological analysis.

Facilities in 17 district-level laboratories

The department is further strengthening the bacteriological facilities in these laboratories and such facilities are being established in 17 district-level laboratories at a cost of approximately Rs 11.42 crore, which is targeted to be completed by the financial year 2025-26. He informed that the work of infrastructure development and installation of equipment in seven laboratories has already been completed.

Reverse osmosis plants were installed

Hardeep Singh Mundian said that appropriate measures have been taken in the villages affected by heavy metals in ground water. Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants have been installed in 10 villages affected by sulphate, nitrate and selenium at a cost of Rs 54.33 lakh. Similarly, community water purification plants are being set up in 23 uranium-affected villages at a cost of Rs 5.91 crore, which is expected to be completed by February 2026.

Approval to Arsenic-cum-Iron Removal Plants

He said that administrative approval has been given for arsenic-cum-iron removal plants in 32 arsenic-affected villages at a cost of Rs 9.77 crore, for which the tender process is underway. Additionally, community water purification plants have been installed in four fluoride-affected villages at a cost of Rs 38.69 lakh, while such works are targeted to be completed by December 2025 in two arsenic-affected villages at a cost of Rs 18.60 lakh. A Uranium Removal Plant has also been established at village Ranbirpura in Patiala district under CSR assistance.

Toilets for more than 6 thousand houses

The Water Supply and Sanitation Minister said that under the rural sanitation sector, 1598 community sanitation complexes have been constructed across the state and work on 580 more complexes is in progress. During the current financial year, toilets have been provided to 6606 households, while construction work of 12,967 household toilets is in progress.

20 biogas plants installed in cowsheds

He informed that 20 biogas plants have been installed in district-level gaushalas and there are plans to install three more such plants in Malerkotla, Gurdaspur and Sri Muktsar Sahib by 2025-26. Solid waste management initiatives have also gained momentum, with 28 block-level plastic waste management units completed and 22 more units in progress. It is planned to set up 77 additional units in villages for the management of dry/plastic waste generated in rural areas during the financial year 2025-26.

Adopt scientific management model

Hardeep Singh Mundian clarified that after achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, the state of Punjab is now moving towards achieving ODF Plus (Model) status for all the villages by March 31, 2026. So far, 2250 villages have adopted scientific waste water management models, while work is in progress in 1812 villages. Similarly, screening-cum-desilting chambers have been constructed in 8747 villages and compost pits for solid waste management have been completed in 4260 villages.