Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for several projects, amounting to Rs 629.51 crore, of the public health and engineering department in a function organised at Samvad.

He started work of 415 rural drinking water supply and solar energy drinking water supply schemes across the state. He also inaugurated Nir Nirmal Samwad, a dedicated call centre though which villagers would be able to contact the headquarters by calling a toll-free number 1800-123-1121.

Nitish registered the first complaint of a handpump not functioning properly in Kurmuri village of Phulwarisharif in Patna district. He also appreciated the work of the department and asked them to ensure that the projects, which have been inaugurated, should be maintained on a regular basis. He also released a poster of Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan and a booklet on cleanliness.

The chief minister also used the occasion to shun the idea of community toilet scheme started by the central government. Nitish said it is not possible to maintain community toilet unless there is a dedicated team to take care of the maintenance and cleanliness. He said the idea of constructing community toilet would not become successful anywhere. Public health and engineering department minister Damodar Rawat was also present apart from the team leader of Global Sanitation Fund, Anand Shekhar.