The Times of India   04.08.2012

 GANDHINAGAR: The state government has told Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar
that out of a total urban population of 2.57 crore in Gujarat, “nearly 2
crore people, 80% of the urban population , are likely to face drinking
water crisis”.Of this, 1.60 crore population belong to the
eight municipal corporations, while the rest, around 40 lakh, to 69
municipalities, the state officials stated while making a presentation
before Pawar and his team.

The issue which needs to be urgently
addressed is about drilling new tube wells, installation of additional
hand pumps, laying connecting pipelines, and supply of water through
tankers, the presentation said.Asking for Rs 287 crore for the
municipal corporations and Rs 69 crore for municipalities for
“short-term measures”, the presentation also wanted the central team to
make major relaxations to meet cost over-runs in water-related projects
taken up under Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and
Medium Towns and the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.In the long run, the requirement will be to the tune of Rs 1,802 crore,
the presentation claimed. , adding that the amount is needed mainly for
“strengthening of sources of drinking water, laying of additional
pipelines, installation of pumping machinery and augmentation of
treatment capacity.”Pawar, it is learnt, however, told the
Gujarat government that his team was mandated to look into the
requirements of the rural population alone. “Urban areas should be taken
care of by the state government,” he was quoted as telling the state
team led by chief minister Narendra Modi.