Blame game between ZP, GP leaves villagers in dire straits

The work was taken up under Prime Minister’s Rural Drinking Water Project 2004-05, to put an end to the drinking water problem of Arenoor-Honnalli villagers. A contractor from Magodi had taken up the work. As per the project plan, a bore well was drilled at a cost of Rs 3.50 lakh in Arenoor Government Primary School premises.  A tank was built at a cost of Rs two lakh and seven HP pump house was set up  to pump the water.

Unfortunately, the entire project reflects the poor quality of work and administrative apathy as the villagers have not yet benefited from the project. The drinking water shortage problem dominates the households in this region even to this day. Not even a drop of water has been lifted from the bore well and pumped to the water tank. The pump house has turned into a dump yard. The unused water tank has been covered with weeds and one can hardly call it a water tank now!

The villagers who are fed up of evasive answers from the officials, have been forced to use the polluted water from a nearby stream for drinking purpose.  If the villagers enquire about the issue with the Gram Panchayat members and Secretaries, the reply they receive is, “the project has not been handed over from the Zilla Panchayat to Gram Panchayat.” While on the other hand, Zilla Panchayat officers claim that they have transferred the project to Gram Panchayat, say the villagers.