Ranchi, March 17 Jharkhand Minister Yogendra Prasad said on Tuesday that the state government has approved the repair of over 1.44 lakh hand pumps across the state in preparation for the summer season.
Funds for this purpose have also been released, he said.
"There will be no water shortage during the summer. The government has approved the repair of 1,44,906 hand pumps," Prasad said in the assembly, in response to a question from JMM MLA Hemlal Murmu.
Murmu claimed that a water crisis is already visible in drought-prone areas, particularly in the Santhal Pargana.
"The groundwater level is gradually declining. Hand pumps installed five or 10 years ago are not functioning in some areas," he said.
Prasad said the state government is working on strategies to address this issue.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi asserted that the state government is blaming the Centre for providing funds even for repairing hand pumps.
Responding to his remarks, Prasad said the Jharkhand government has already released funds for repairing hand pumps.
Earlier, JD(U) legislator Saryu Roy raised a question about making Domchanch in the Koderma district a Nagar Panchayat.
Responding to Roy, state minister Sudivya Kumar said Domchanch was declared a Nagar Panchayat following established norms.
"It is true that certain areas fall within the eco-sensitive zone. We will develop a comprehensive master plan and try to address the issues faced by the local residents," he said.
"To ensure that commercial activities in the region remain unaffected, we will work with the forest department to identify alternative solutions," Kumar added.