Minister of State for Food Processing Industry and Jal Shakti Prahlad Singh Patel told media that out of 1.27 crore houses in 79,395 rural settlements in 12,525 village panchayats in Tamil Nadu, about 46.33 lakh houses had received drinking water supply.
Patel appreciated the state government for providing 100% drinking water supply to schools, health centers, meal centers and government offices. The minister has instructed the officials to take the necessary measures to improve, maintain and protect the water supply sources. He focused on the need to cover the household in phases to provide water connections.
He said work is underway to eradicate open defecation by building individual and communal toilets and improving waste management systems in rural areas.