DK ZP earmarks ` 71 cr for rural water supply

A comprehensive water package to Dakshina Kannada villages

On a positive note hereafter, unlike previous years, ZP is not at liberty to receive the fund from the Central government and spend it as per the general plans and requirements, but it has to submit a clear cut master plan and publish it on the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) website.

The amount of fund granted by the Central government after scrutinising the master plan published on the website must be spent as per the scheduled plan and is not entitled to spend based on the immediate requirements.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, ZP Executive Engineer Sathyanarayana S L informed that Zilla Panchayat had submitted action plans on water programmes for the year 2010-11 in the month of June and consequently the Central government has released partial amount of the total grant. “As per the directions of the Department of Drinking Water Supply, we have published the entire information about the completed works, spill over works, pending payments and works that are yet to be started. After analysisng the state of drinking water facilities and requirements in the district, the Central Government has sanctioned Rs 71.08 crore for the district,” informed Sathyanarayana.

The benefit of uploading information in IMIS website is that Zilla Panchayat will have to spend the amount very carefully, without giving scope for unnecessary wastes as the expenditure of each project must not exceed the stipulated amount sanctioned. On the other hand, Sathyanarayana supposes that the initiative too has a disadvantage as the immediate water requirements can’t be met under this programme.

“According to the initiative, we can provide water facilities to schools in the form of borewells, hand pumps, overhead tanks and water filters, but we won’t be able to repair the spoilt systems in case of necessity,” informed the Executive Engineer.

6 classifications

The allotted amount will be distributed for carrying out six schemes viz, PWS, MWS, Handumps, School Water Supply, Sustainability and Terrifils. Under School Water Supply Scheme, among 164 government schools in the district, water filters have been distributed to 70 schools in the year 2009-10, while rest of the school will receive the filters in the year 2010-11, informed Sathyanarayana and added that water treatment in the village areas will be one of the factors to be worked on.

Change in process

ZP’s estimation of water requirement has also changed, as ZP will not estimate water requirement on the basis of individual water consumption level, but it will be estimated on the habitation requirement.