Chandigarh: Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government has invested over ₹2,900 crore to strengthen water supply and sanitation infrastructure across the state. This sustained investment has accelerated project completion, expanded technology adoption and improved water quality and sanitation services, directly benefiting rural and semi-urban populations. He informed that Punjab has achieved 100 percent rural tap water coverage, ensuring safe and potable drinking water to over 34 lakh families, while an annual implementation plan of ₹2,190.80 crore for FY 2025-26 has been approved for rural sanitation development.
The Minister said Punjab has emerged as the fifth state in the country to provide Functional Household Tap Connections to all rural households. Focused efforts were made in water quality-affected areas through 15 major surface water supply projects covering 1,706 villages, of which four have been commissioned and 11 are nearing completion, benefiting nearly 25 lakh rural households. During the current financial year, 205 rural water supply schemes were completed at a cost of ₹278.37 crore, while projects worth ₹160 crore to upgrade 144 schemes and ₹140 crore for water and sewerage upgradation in Sri Muktsar Sahib are underway, further strengthening integrated infrastructure planning.
Highlighting technology-driven governance, Mundian said IoT-based monitoring systems have been implemented in 346 schemes covering 897 villages, supported by a three-tier NABL-accredited laboratory network for water quality monitoring. Targeted mitigation measures are being implemented in villages affected by arsenic, uranium, fluoride and other contaminants. In the sanitation sector, over 1,598 community sanitary complexes have been constructed, solid waste and plastic waste management facilities expanded, and biogas plants established. After achieving ODF status, Punjab is now moving towards ODF Plus (Model) status, with the target of covering all villages by March 31, 2026.
