Grants abound, yet no water for 238 villages
Funds unused: Zilla Panchayat officers prepare action plan
Despite the flood of grants for drought relief work in the district, 238 villages struggle to get a pot of drinking water. 
The Zilla Panchayat officials, who have not effectively used the grants released already, are busy preparing action plan for an outlay of Rs 10 crore to address water crisis in these villages, sources said.
The Zilla Panchayat has listed 45 villages in Kolar taluk, 36 in Malur taluk, 66 in Bangarpet, 38 in Mulbagal and 45 in Srinivaspur which are likely to face acute water crisis due to scarcity of rains, said the sources. The solution is to sink borewells in all the 230 villages, they said.
Accordingly, the ZP in its action plan that will be submitted to the government, has estimated Rs 3.29 crore for new borewells, and 6.70 crore for motors and pump. Its talukwise breakup of the estimated expenditure for the projects is: Kolar - 1.95 crore, Malur - Rs 1.67 crore, Bangarpet - Rs 2.85 crore, Mulbagal - Rs 1.59 crore and Srinivaspur - Rs 1.91 crore.
But, citizens feel that the enthusiasm shown in preparing the action plan fizzles out when it comes to implementation of the project using the funds effectively. Of the Rs 1.80 crore released under the National Calamity Relief Fund by the deputy commissioner, Rs 50 lakh is yet to be utilised.
The borewell projects already undertaken in the taluk are still under the various stages of implementation.
Various sources
Besides, water is supplied through private agencies in 38 villages (3 in Kolar, 16 in Malur and 19 in Bangarpet) of the district while 36 villages (4 in Kolar, 12 in Malur, 16 in Bangarpet and 4 in Mulbagal) are being supplied water through tankers.
The situation in urban areas is no different as the towns which are dependent on water resources in the neighbouring villages have also been deprived of water.
According to ZP officials, Kolar, Malur and Bangarpet are the most affected where town and city municipalities have not been able to pay the tanker owners due to fund crunch.
Kolar CMC has dues worth Rs 1.25 crore to the tanker owners who supplied water. They have stopped supply of water in protest. Bangarpet is also sailing in the same boat.
The officials seems to have ignored the word of caution by the district in-charge secretary against dependence on private suppliers.
In-charge secretary P N Srinivasachari has suggested the officials to look for permanent solutions such as rejuvenating and utilising natural water resources in the nearby areas and economic use of borewells.
