Union minister for Rural Development on Friday announced that a Fluoride Mitigation Centre would soon be opened in Gujarat, during a conference of state ministers and secretaries on drinking water and sanitation held in New Delhi.
Gujarat water resources minister Nitin Patel, who was attending the conference, welcomed the decision of the union government. He also urged the union government to provide the state financial assistance to meet increased demand for drinking water supply in the tribal areas of Gujarat under the group water supply scheme.
Patel said the Gujarat government already provides drinking water through hand pumps in tribal areas but due to increase in demand, water supply needed to be made through group water supply scheme. He said that Gujarat has already sanctioned Rs 960 crore for this proposed scheme and urged the Union Minister that government of India should provide 50 per cent financial assistance for this purpose.
Gujarat has made a budget provision of Rs 2,500 crore for the year 2012-13.