The Alipurduar district administration and the state public health engineering (PHE) department will jointly conduct a survey in all educational institutions across the district to find out if all these institutions have a drinking water connection.

On Tuesday, an administrative meeting was held here to discuss the survey where it was also said that the PHE will provide water connection to all institutions which lack it.

The initiative has been taken to implement “Jal Swapna,” an initiative announced by chief minister Mamata Banerjee to provide drinking water in every nook and corner of the state.

“The PHE has taken the task to provide door-to-door water connection in 19 villages of the district where supply was not available so far. From tomorrow (Wednesday), the survey of educational institutions will start. The teams will cover both government and private institutions and prepare a report within a fortnight. After the survey, a plan will be drawn to ensure all institutions get drinking water supply,” said Sheela Das Sarkar, the sabhadhipati of Alipurduar Zilla Parishad.

In Alipurduar, sources said, there are around 2,500 educational institutions, which include 104 high schools and 840 primary schools, along with colleges, madarsas, Sishu Siksha Kendras and Madhyamik Siksha Kendras.

“There is a similar plan to extend water supply to the ICDS centres of the district,” said an official.

The initiative, he said, is important as in schools, pure drinking water is vital for the students and also to prepare midday meals for them.

“Also, there is a prevalence of water-borne diseases, especially in the tea estates and rural areas. To confirm children are drinking pure water in schools, this initiative is necessary. There are many schools where there is no alternative water source and students have to walk to the nearby village to get water,” he added.

In Alipurduar district, the PHE has provided water connection to 70,980 houses so far under the “Jal Swapna” scheme, said sources.

“We are also putting impetus on drinking water in all tea estates of the district, some of which are located in remote areas,” the official said.