Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghuvar Das today promised to provide potable water to all and make the state open defecation free (ODF) in five years.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating a water project in Chota Gamariah, 20 km from here in the adjoining Seraikela-Kharswan district, Das said the government has taken initiatives in this regard and assured to build three lakh toilets across the state in five years.
The Chief Minister appealed all to construct toilets, while the government would set up it for the poor who can't afford to build the facility on their own.
The government has plans to supply potable water to each town and village in the next five years, he said while appreciating the Chota Gamharia Panchayat for becoming the first panchayat in the state to attain ODF status as a part of the Centre's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
Das assured that recruitment of school teachers would be done in the next three months and improvement of infrastructure of all schools in the state in a year's time.
The water project was established at a cost of Rs 683 lakh and people of seven villages would benefit. Besides, Das also laid the foundation stone of Seraikela urban water project and ten single village water distribution projects under the Neer Nirmal project.
Jharkhand water resources and sanitation minister Chandra Prakash Choudhury was also present on the occasion.
The chief minister left for Chaibasa where he would hold a cabinet meeting, for the first time in the Kolhan region comprising of East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharswan districts, later in the day.
