The 16 World Bank mission while rating praising Punjab's implementation of of a Rs. 1280 crore Punjab Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (PRWSS) project Phase-I as the best in the country has said that it should be declared as a model project and replicated in other parts of the country. The project has not only exceeded the implementation targets under water supply component by 127%, but was also providing water connections to each household in a village but also runs about 50 schemes daily.
These observations were made by a WB team led by S. Poddipireddy during a meeting with the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to assess the progress made under the ongoing World Bank aided project.
Water meters installedMr Poddipireddy said that water meters have been installed in 196 villages and more than 961 villages implemented under the project have achieved 100 per cent connectivity with each house having a tap installed. In 2083 villages, Gram Panchayat Water and Sanitation Committees (GPWSCs) have been established where villagers operate and maintain their schemes on sustainable basis without any financial assistance from the government. Some villages have also generated funds ranging from one to 10 lakh to operate and maintain the projects in their villages.
The team also apprised Mr. Badal that the World Bank has already accorded in principle approval to Rs. 2200 crore Phase-II of PRWSS project on the recommendations of Union Ministries of Finance and Water Supply & Sanitation for providing the facility of sewerage system and potable drinking water besides setting up of Capacity Building Project Management and Training Institute in the State.
