Haryana to be open-defecation free by December 2017: Khattar

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said the state would be open-defecation free by December next year and every household would be provided LPG connection.
"Haryana would be made open-defecation free by December, 2017, under the 'Swachh Bharat' campaign and every household would have a toilet," he said.
Urging people to get toilets constructed in their houses and avoid defecating in the open, Khattar said the state government is providing a grant for building toilets.
The Chief Minister also said the government is preparing a scheme to make the state kerosene-free and provide LPG connection to every household within the next one-and-a-half-year.

"With a prescribed time-frame, the scheme to provide LPG connections would be given final shape soon. LPG connection in every household would not only help reduce health risks posed by burning of kerosene, wood and other fuels, but also bring down pollution," Khattar said today.
It would also put a check on the black-marketing and misuse of kerosene, he said at a function in Hansi.

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Meanwhile, talking about the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal, Khattar said the final hearing on the issue of has been completed by the Supreme Court, but it has reserved its verdict and hoped that the decision would be in favour of Haryana.

He made the remarks after presiding over a meeting of the state Cabinet here today.
He said the issue of SYL had been lying pending in the Supreme Court for presidential reference for the last 12 years, but the state government strongly pleaded the case in the Supreme Court and ensured its regular hearing.
Khattar saud the BJP-ruled state government has implemented a number of welfare programmes for the people during its two years in office, and was doing the same in Punjab with its alliance partner SAD.
Therefore, the present alliance in Punjab would return to power in the ensuing Assembly elections, he said.

The chief minister stated this after releasing a book titled -- "2 Saal Sabka Khayal", highlighting the achievements of the Haryana government.
Khattar criticised the Opposition parties for misleading the people through their disinformation campaign.
When asked to comment on the status of Swaminathan Report, he said the Opposition had not properly studied this report.
"It is a lengthy report. Implementation of crop insurance scheme and fixation of Rs 10,000 compensation per acre on account of damage to crop was a part of this report. But the present government had not only implemented the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana but also enhanced the amount of compensation to Rs 12,000 per acre," he added.