Patna, March 15: The BJP-led Opposition today disrupted Assembly proceedings, demanding a discussion on drinking water supply and the merger of the chief minister's hand-pump scheme with projects under Nitish Kumar's seven resolves.

As soon as the House sat for Question Hour, slogan-shouting BJP members stormed into the Well demanding to know the government's stand on shortage of drinking water in the state. Leader of the Opposition Prem Kumar demanded adjournment for a special discussion on the water shortage but Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary rejected it.

Despite disruptions by the Opposition, Question Hour continued for 30 minutes. Around 11.30am, the Speaker adjourned the House till 2pm.

When the House resumed, Opposition members once again entered the Well and staged a dharna for two-and-a-half hours, disrupting House proceedings.

Prem Kumar later told journalists that drinking water was an important issue and the BJP wanted to know the government's stand on it.

"As the chief minister's hand-pump scheme has been merged with his seven resolves, no hand pump is being installed in the state," Prem said. "As a result people are facing severe water crisis. As part of the chief minister's seven resolves, the state government aims to provide piped water to every household, but in doing so the government has stopped installation of hand pumps."

Under the chief minister's hand-pump scheme, any MLA can in a year install five hand pumps in a gram panchayat, three in a ward falling under municipal corporation area, two in a ward falling under municipality and one in a ward falling under nagar panchayat's jurisdiction.