The Centre proposes to install ten thousand solar power-based pumps for supplying drinking water in the naxal-affected areas. 

The funds will provided under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme and the National Clean Energy Fund. Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation, Jairam Ramesh gave this information in the Lok Sabha today. 

In Punjab, World Bank assisted water supply and sanitation project would provide drinking water and sewrage in all the 1346 villages of the state by December, next year.

The project was launched in the state in 2008 and in the last more than three years 696 villages in amost all the districts have been provided with potable water till now.

A World Bank team led by a technical expert, Piyush Dogra is on Punjab visit to review the progress of the ongoing project and had expressed satisfaction over the status of the plan in the state.

The scheme will cost 1280.30 crore rupees. The project is also providing temporary employment to many people.

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.