New Delhi, May 15: As Coronavirus infection is spreading to rural India, the National Jal Jeevan Mission has advised States and Union Territories to monitor water quality and undertake surveillance to ensure potable drinking water to every home and public institutions in all villages across country.
The advisory notably has come amid reports of dead bodies found floating in rivers in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
“In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, criticality of public health including preventive action, is well understood, making safe drinking water, improved sanitation and better hygiene a pre-requisite for improved public health,” the Jal Shakti Ministry said in a statement.
The Mission also asked every state and UT to have at least one state/UT level laboratory and region-wise laboratories in bigger states and UTs so that all nearby sources are tested regularly.
Similarly, all districts should have a district-level laboratory and setting up of the same to be accorded highest priority, said the statement.
Further, all laboratories are to be opened for public to test their water samples at a nominal rate.
“This will instill confidence in public on the quality of water supplied and the demand for water purification devices will be curtailed,” the statement added.
The JJM scheme aims to ensure assured tap water supply to all rural households by 2024.
Under the scheme announced in 2019, four crore households are said to have been provided with tap water connections.
States, UTs avised to monitor water quality in villages in view of Covid surge
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