Mumbai, May 15 -- The central government has assured the state of Goa that its request for Rs 6.5 billion to implement a 24x7 'Drink from Tap' (DfT) water supply initiative will be given due consideration, according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
The assurance was made during a high-level review meeting in Panaji, chaired by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, with Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane. The meeting focused on progress in power and urban infrastructure projects.
Chief Minister Sawant highlighted Goa's tourism-driven urban pressure and sought increased financial support for essential services, particularly the DfT project. The proposal includes water source augmentation, infrastructure upgrades, rehabilitation of existing pipelines, smart metering, and SCADA-based monitoring systems to ensure round-the-clock potable water access.
Minister Khattar instructed officials to explore necessary policy amendments so tourist-centric states like Goa may receive enhanced allocations under schemes such as AMRUT 2.0 and Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) 2.0. He cited Puri in Odisha-the first Indian city to implement 24x7 tap water-as a model.
Goa also requested Rs 3.3 billion in additional funds for urban water infrastructure. Khattar urged the state to accelerate work on water and sewer connections under AMRUT, finalise sanitation tenders under SBM-U, and fast-track solid waste and co-treatment facilities.
He also encouraged greater citizen participation in PMAY-Urban and PM SVANidhi schemes, aiming to broaden affordable housing and financial inclusion for women and street vendors.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.