1 Nov : An ambitious scheme to provide stand-alone drinking water system to one lakh schools across the country has been approved by the government, which decided to start implementing it from the Children’s Day next month.
Referring to the budget announcement this year that one lakh schools would be provided with such clean drinking water facilities, Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Friday said the Union Cabinet, at its meeting last night, approved the scheme which would cost Rs 200 crore during the current financial year.
The Director General Supplies and Disposal (DGS&D) has finalised the technologies, the rates and suppliers for the systems, he said, adding that this had also been communicated to the respective governments in the states and union territories.
Maintaining that "money will be provided for its implementation", he said, "we will make a beginning on 14th November when the first system will be installed in a school."
While one lakh schools would be covered during the current fiscal, the scheme would be continued in successive years, the Minister said.