PANAJI: The Centre has sanctioned Rs 28.72 crore for setting up two more water treatment plants in the state - at Ambeshi-Paleim in Bicholim taluka and at Panchwadi in Ponda taluka - under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme.

Senior officials from the ministry of public works department who did not want to be named informed that the Centre has given its approval for setting up the two water treatment plants; one at Ambeshi in Bicholim, which will have a capacity of 25 million litres per day (MLD) while the Panchawadi plant will have a capacity of 10 MLD.

The official informed that the estimated cost of setting up both the plants is over Rs 140 crore. He said that the project is partially financed by the Centre while the state government will have to bear a larger share of the cost. The official informed that the Centre has sanctioned Rs 19.25 crore for the Ambeshi plant while the state government will have to incur around Rs 80 crore to complete the project.

Similarly, he said that the Centre has sanctioned Rs 9.47 crore for the Panchwadi plant while the state government will have to bear the cost of another Rs 38 crore for the same. He said that the files are being processed and the estimates have been made and added that both the plants will be completed within the next 3-4 years. Further, he said that the Centre will release the funds in a phased manner and the PWD will have to submit periodical reports to the Centre. He said that after completion of the projects people from remote areas will be assured of quality drinking water.

The objective of this programme is to make available to every rural person, adequate safe water for drinking, cooking and other basic domestic needs on a sustainable basis. The Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission also looks to increase economic productivity and improve public health as there is an urgent need to immediately enhance access to safe and adequate drinking water with the government giving the highest priority to accomplishing this basic need for the most vulnerable and deprived sections of society.