AGARTALA, February 16 (TIWN): The state government is working to enhance quality of life of the people by providing sustainable safe drinking water and sanitation facilities and services along with promoting hygienic practices amongst the people, said finance minister Bhanulal Saha during annual budget session in Tripura Assembly.

During the current financial year, 17 Surface Water Treatment Plants and 94 Deep Tube Wells have been sunk; 146 Deep Tube Wells and 427 Small Bore Deep Tube Wells have been commissioned; 669 Spot sources have been created and 55 IRPs have been installed, the minister said.

So far, 4790 schools and Madrassas out of 4800 Nos and 9648 AWCs out 9911 have been covered with safe drinking water facilities. The remaining 14 no-covered habitations will also be covered by March, 2015 leaving no un-covered habitations in the state, Saha added.

The minister further said that action plan has been drawn up for the year 2015-16 for sinking and commissioning of 274 Deep Tube Wells and 970 Small Bore Tube Wells, construction of 150 iron removal plants, construction of 15 Surface Water Treatment Plants, creation of 1734 spot sources, construction of 46 rain water harvesting structures and 38 innovative schemes.

During the current financial year 13614 individual household latrines have already been constructed. For the improvement of sanitation at community level construction of 75 units school toilets and 757 units Anganwadi toilets have been also completed. During the year 2015-16, 75000 individual household latrines for APL and 150 Sanitary complexes will be taken up, Bhanulal Saha mentioned.