The Hindu 11.12.2009
U.P. to introduce metered water supply in seven cities
Special Correspondent
| It will be implemented under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission |
The cost of meters has been included in the financial allocation by the Centre
The constitution of Secondary Education Campaign Board also approved by State Cabinet
LUCKNOW: Metered water supply is going to be introduced in seven cities of Uttar Pradesh with the user charges being determined by the quantum of water used by the consumers. The system aims at checking the wastage of water. The seven cities are Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Varanasi, Allahabad, Meerut and Mathura.
The metered water supply proposal was given the green signal by the State Government at a Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Mayawati. The new system will be implemented under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and no additional financial burden will accrue to the State treasury.
According to an official spokesman, metered water supply has been made mandatory in the infrastructure development schemes approved under the Urban Renewal Mission. The cost of meters has been included in the financial allocation by the Centre for implementation of JNNURM in the State. In addition, the fixation of volumetric telescopic block tariff of the water used has also been made mandatory.
The constitution of a Secondary Education Campaign Board was also approved by the State Cabinet. The Board, to be headed by the Chief Minister, would ensure qualitative improvement in primary education and has been patterned on the lines of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan of the Central Government. An additional post of Executive Director of the State Secondary Education Campaign Board would be created for proper implementation of the programme. The Secondary Education Minister and the State Chief Secretary will be the vice-chairmen of the board.
Once the education board is constituted, additional funds will be made available for improving the quality of education in the secondary schools. There are 15,413 secondary schools in the State with 6,470 institutions of high school level and the remaining 8,443 up to Class XII or Intermediate level.
