Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday laid the foundation of 32,781 projects worth Rs 1,359.3crore under the Jal-Jivan-Hariyali Abhiyan by symbolically pressing the button of a remote control at an event organised by the rural development department at Gyan Bhavan.

The CM also inaugurated 2,391 completed projects worth Rs 291.3 crore under the Abhiyan. With the state-wide launch of the initiative, at least one project has been taken up in each of the 8,386 gram-panchayats under all 534 blocks in the state.

A total of Rs 24,524 crore would be spent under the campaign in three financial years (2019-20 to 2021-22), of which Rs 5,870 crore will be spent in the current financial year.

Earlier on October 2, the CM had formally launched the Abhiyan from the same venue, but its state-wide implementation was deferred due to the flood situation in 15 districts and waterlogging in certain areas of the state capital. Addressing the event, the CM stressed the need for working to protect environment and minimize the impact of climate change in Bihar .

Nitish called upon the officials of the 12 departments, which will implement the programmes, to effectively monitor the timely implementation of the projects so that Bihar could set an example for other states and the Centre as well.

“Bihar has already set an example in areas like providing electricity to each household, providing tap water to every home and construction of roads. Now even the Centre is following our model in providing electricity and tap water to each household,” Nitish said.

He asked the officials to set an example so that the Centre and other states were compelled to follow the Bihar model or launch a Bihar-like scheme for protection of environment.

The CM also talked about the proposed Ganga Water Lift Project under which water from Ganga near Mokama would be supplied to towns like Gaya, Rajgir and Nawada through pipe for drinking purpose. He said, the Ganga water would be drawn during the four months of rainy season and stored at various places to ensure supply of drinking water to the three towns round-the-year.

He said the state government has formed a high-powered Jal-Jivan-Hasriyali Mission for proper implementation of projects taken up under the Abhiyan. “The 16-member governing body of the JJH Mission would be headed by state’s chief secretary, while the state’s development commissioner will lead its 30-member executive body,” the CM said, adding the Bihar Vikas Mission’s governing body would monitor and guide the Abhiyan.

Besides, there would be a state-level advisory committee under the chairmanship of state’s parliamentary affairs minister Shravan Kumar for implementation of the Abhiyan, the CM said.

Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi , road construction minister-cum-incharge minister of Patna district Nand Kishore Yadav and rural development minister Shravan Kumar also addressed the event.

There was live webcast and broadcast of the event at more than 8,500 locations across the state. Ministers, legislators, representatives of panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies, Shiksha Mitra, Vikas Mitra, Didis of Jeevika and officials of concerned departments watched the proceedings at their respective locations in the panchayat buildings, block headquarters and district headquarters.

