RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, March 9: Jharkhand minister Mithilesh Thakur accepted underutilization of funds before the state assembly passed a budget of Rs 4050.40crore for 2022-23 of the water resource, drinking, and sanitation departments in the absence of opposition party legislators.
While accepting the reality that only 24.6 percent of the budget could be spent, the minister, who holds the drinking water and sanitation department portfolio said despite odds the state government could take potable water to 34.07lakh households and started working on 237 big water projects. He also said as many as 49511 solar power-based irrigation projects have been started in the state.
The minister said realizing the importance of small irrigation projects, Rs 306.30 crore has been allocated for it and the amount is two and a half times more than the budgetary allocation of the previous budget.
He said the government is committed to provide potable water to each household and agricultural plot through different projects.
During the debate on the cut motion brought by BJP legislator Biranchi Narayan, legislators had pointed out loopholes in the policy of declaring district open defecation free (ODF). On which the minister said that it has been plugged in this government and proper actions are being taken against erring officials and beneficiaries.
Senior JMM legislator Lobin Hembrom during the reply of the government raised the issue of non-payment of honorarium of Jal Sahias and Poshan Sakhis for the last 11 months besides expressing his concern over defunct hand pumps. On which the minister said that the payment of three months has been released while steps have been taken to clear the dues. Regarding repairing of hand pumps, he said steps will also be taken for the same.
Before the House passed the budget and the minister gave his reply, several points were raised and suggestions came for consideration during the debate. On which the minister assured proper consideration and said whatever will be required to improve the function of government will be done.
The important points and suggestions included proper action against corrupt officials, proper analysis of data before presenting the budget to ensure that it does present a contradictory fact, proper utilization of DMFT fund for water supply projects, monitoring of agencies chosen for the implementation of projects, differentiating between the supply of water and giving water connection, proper actions against officer giving reasons instead of results, the constitution of irrigation commission in the state, paying proper attention to Giridih to ensure that some projects of irrigation be taken there, formulation of law for the conservation of rivers, completion of projects pending for a long time and ensuring action against officers differentiating area according to the political affiliation of people besides other.
A JMM legislator during the debate asked minister Thakur to visit other partspart of the state instead of remaining limited to his constituency area, Garhwa.
EoM
