CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Government on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Hyderabad-based Naandi Foundation to implement a pilot project on community safe drinking water systems in select villages in the State in a phased manner. The MoU was signed by Haryana Commissioner and Secretary, Public Works Department (Water Supply and Sanitation) Roshan Lal and National Director (Water Programme) Amit Jain on behalf of Naandi Foundation in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala here. Mr. Hooda directed Mr. Roshan Lal to appoint a nodal officer in the department to ensure effective implementation of the project. He suggested to the Chief Executive Officer of the Naandi Foundation, Mr. Manoj Kumar, to reduce the service charges for purifying water from 11 paise per litre to 10 paise. Mr. Kumar accepted the suggestion. First phase In the first phase of the programme, 100 villages would be taken up specifically in the districts of Mewat, Mahendergarh, Jhajjar, Kaithal and other areas where villages have "water problem'. These areas have very high contamination levels in drinking water sources. The project will be based on reverse osmosis and related technologies. Mr. Hooda said the State Government would pay Rs.11.25 crore to Naandi Foundation for implementation of the programme shortly. The Foundation would provide a monthly status report on the progress of commissioning of the programme. Since the Foundation is a no-profit organisation, the project would not attract any taxes of the Government or the Local Bodies. Mr. Manoj Kumar said the Naandi Foundation would provide, install and commission safe drinking water plants based on WHO guidelines with reverse osmosis technology having all accessories and storage systems. According to the MoU, the Naandi Foundation would bear the cost of energy charges for operations and maintenance of water resources and water treatment plants. It would also make arrangements for disposal of the rejected water in consultation with the Haryana Government. It would also meet the requirements of the Haryana Pollution Control Board regarding management of rejected water and also comply with all the standard legal provisions.