ISLAMABAD, 13 July — The government has approved four major projects worth 270 million rupees to improve water resources of the country, Minister for Science and Technology Ataur Rahman said yesterday. Ata was addressing a conference of experts to finalize strategy for development, conservation and utilization of water resources of Pakistan, organized jointly by Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) and the chief engineering adviser (Wapda) and Pakistan Meteorological Department. The minister identified these four projects as drought mitigation in Cholistan, rejuvenation of depleting aquifers of Balochistan, national water quality monitoring program and upgradation of the laboratories and libraries of PCRWR. He said the PCRWR has been assigned the task of monitoring the quality of water in 21 cities and the data about the quality will be made public through a website. The minister hoped that public pressure would compel the civic bodies to provide clean drinking water to citizens.