The government has adopted a strategy to phased saturation approach for creation of Nirmal Grams in the country. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today, Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Jairam Ramesh said that under the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, toilets are being constructed. He, however said that there are no annual targets as it is a demand driven programme. 

The Minister informed that lakhs of toilets have been constructed under the Abhiyan and total Sanitation Campaign across the country during the past three years.

Union Rural Development Minister Mr. Jai Ram Ramesh has promised that whole country will become 'clean ' by 2022. Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh today he said that Sikkim is the first state which has got the status of a nirmal state and Kerala will be second such state by next year.Minister discussed drinking water facilities and sanitation programme today in Chandigarh with the representatives of Punjab, Haryana, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim. He said that for total sanitation besides providing toilets there is also a need to change the mindset of people to stop open defacation. Minister said that with total sanitation health problems will be solved.

Mr. Jairam Ramesh said that Punjab is the only state where Uranium content has been found in the underground water while its causes are not yet known and Centre Government is providing assistance to the state to tackle this problem. Minister announced that a labortary will be set up in Mohali near Chandigarh to suggest mesures to treat Uranium contaminated water in Malwa region of Punjab. This labortary will start functioning with in 6 to 8 months and Centre Government will provide rupees 4 crore for this labortary. Minister promised that centre will provide all possible assistance to punjab with the help of scientists of Bhaba Atomic Research Centre. It may be mentioned that recently Uranium was found in half of the 2400 water samples filled in Punjab.

Rural Development and Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Mr.
Jairam Ramesh today said that his ministry has prepared a cabinet note
to lberalize norms for sanitatiion. 

Mr. Ramesh was interacting with
media at a two-day conference of State Ministers and Secretaries of Rural Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation in New Delhi. The Minister said the present grant of 4700 rupees per household for sanitation is insufficient, which will be doubled after the cabinet approval.

He said a decision has been taken to launch a total sanitation campaign, Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan from this year. Mr Ramesh also said that a technical committee will be set up find out hows saline water can be used for drinking in coastal State. The committee will also try to come up with ways to solve the problem of drinking water in
border states.

The Minister said the government has set a target to provide drinking water to rural population through pipelines by 2022.