JOIN USThe Union government has sanctioned a Rs 402-crore contingency plan, under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme, to tide over the water crisis in the State.
The move follows recommendations by task forces of various districts, said Revenue Secretary (disaster management) Tushar Girinath, here on Tuesday.
He told a press conference that the funds will be utilised for all the drought-prone districts in the State. While Mysore district gets Rs 13.41 crore, Chamarajanagar will receive Rs 21 crore.
Girinath told Deccan Herald that a three-pronged strategy would be adopted to address water problems. Opening goshalas (cattle sheds) and transporting water to areas facing acute shortage are part of the strategy. He said money from the State Drought Relief Fund and National Drought Relief Fund would be utilised to tackle the crisis. New borewells would also be sunk to supply water to areas facing scarcity.
Water will be transported from the various sources identified by the deputy commissioners (DCs) of the respective districts.
“We will see to it that people get water under all circumstances,” he said.
He said water rationing, if implemented, will be with respect to surface water schemes and will be ‘dependent on water availability’.
Though the cities are well-equipped to face the crisis, there may be a problem for other urban areas during summer months, he said.
He said rural areas will be the worst hit by the crisis and that steps are being taken to supply water to villages from urban areas.
Video conference with DCs, CEOs
Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar will hold a video conference with deputy commissioners (DCs) of all the districts and chief executive officers (CEOs) of all the zilla panchayats to discuss the water crisis on January 12. Another meeting of the DCs and CEOs with officials of the Water Resources department will be held on January 17.