PANAJI
Congratulating the State for achieving 100% 'Har Ghar Jal' certification, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the achievement will inspire the entire country towards achieving the goal.
Modi was addressing the gathering via a video message at the 'Har Ghar Jal Utsav' under the Jal Jeevan Mission organised at Institute Menezes Branganza Hall on Friday.
The QR code for paying water bills was also launched at the hands of Union Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekawat along with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral, WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar and others, making Goa the first State to launch such facility.
“Goa has become the first State to become 'Har Ghar Jal' certified, apart from the Union Territories of Dadar and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu. I congratulate the chief minister and his team, citizens, local self governing bodies for the achievement which will inspire the entire country,” said Modi, while further lauding the State for playing a big role in fulfilling many Central missions.
He further informed that in the coming months, many more States will join Goa in achieving 100% 'Har Ghar Hal' certification.
“Within 3 years of 'Jal Jeevan Mission', 7 crore rural households got piped water as opposed to only 3 crore rural households during the earlier seven decades,” Modi informed while stating that the Centre has spent Rs 3,60,000 crore on the mission.
“The number of wetlands has also increased to 75 with 50 being added up in the past 8 years alone,” he added.
“The success of the mission is people's participation, partnership, political will and optimum utilisation of resources,” he stated and informed that very soon 'Har Ghar Jal' will become a reality in the entire country.
He further said water security would be one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century and since the past eight years, the Centre is working towards overcoming the challenges.
“To ensure that water security does not become a challenge for a progressive India, my government is laying thrust on the same with initiatives like 'catch the rain', 'Atal Bhujal Yojana', 'Amrut Sarovar Yojana', interlinking rivers, or 'Jal Jeevan Mission',” Modi said.
On the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the prime minister said India is inching towards achieving 100% ODF plus status with initiatives like community toilets, plastic waste management, grey water management, etc. “Over one lakh villages in the country have already become ODF plus,” he stated.
PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral, WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar, Chief Secretary Punit Goyal and others spoke on the occasion. PWD Principal Chief Engineer D C Gupta, Chief Engineer Santosh Mapne and other officials were present.
