CHANDIGARH:  Kamata Hiroko, Project formulation Advisor, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) called on Punjab Chief Minister  Parkash Singh Badal this afternoon at his residence and put forth a detailed proposal to set up a joint implementation committee consisting of officers of Punjab government, Punjab Pollution Control Board and Experts of JICA to implement a project to monitor and clean the rivers of Punjab infested with pollution.

Disclosing this here Thursday Media Advisor to Chief Minister Harcharan Bains said that the project would be funded by the government of Japan and completed within three years commencing from April 2009. 

It may be recalled that this is the first project of its kind to be started by JICA in any state of the country.  The Chief Minister appreciated the initiative of JICA and the Japan government and termed it as a 'well timed, significant and corrective strategy' to combat the menace of polluted river waters at this critical juncture, said the Media Advisor. 

Showing deep concern over the poor quality of water in the state, Mr. Badal said that the state government had already made concerted efforts to ensure 'safe drinking water for all' through proper monitoring of rural water supply schemes by application of Reverse Osmosis (RO), Silver Ionization and Ultra Violet techniques depending on the quality of water through its own resources.  He hoped that with the participation of JICA and Japan government the problem of river pollution would be effectively addressed for all times to come which was posing a great threat to the health of the people of the state besides its soil texture.