Prepare action plan to develop 1,529 lakes: Muniyappa

Union Minister of State K H Muniyappa has asked the officials to prepare an action plan to develop 1,529 lakes in the district.

He was addressing a meeting of the officials at the Zilla Panchayat auditorium in the city on Saturday. A task force comprising Rural Development, Minor Irrigation, Panchayat Raj Engineering and Irrigation Departments should be formed to rejuvenate the lakes in the district. He directed the officials to prepare a plan to develop lakes at a cost of Rs 800 crore.

Earlier, during rainy season, Palaar and Uttara Pinakini rivers would flow down from Nandi Hills to the district. But, today, due to the silt accumulation, the districts are deprived of water sources. Authorities concerned were asked to desilt the major tanks in Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts to allow rivers to reach tanks.

He asked the officials to prepare a draft to improve the existing primary stormwater drains and submit to the department concerned soon. He promised to initiate measures to release grants.

Water table in the districts is depleting by day. Days are not very far, when the district would totally go dry.  It’s time, measures are initiated to improve traditional water sources to enhance water table in the districts, the minister observed.

Panchayat and Rural Development Department Secretary Amitha Prasad told the meeting that already, an action plan has been prepared to develop 365 lakes in the district.  With regard to water crisis, the district administration has been asked to tackle drinking water crisis effectively.

She further said that the pending wage amount under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee  Scheme (MGNREGS) for the year 2009-10 will be reviewed by a third party - as directed by the Central government - before releasing it.

Vigilance squads have been set up at gram panchayat level in every taluk to inform water scarcity, said Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena. District In-charge secretary P N Srinivasachari and ZP deputy secretary Badanur were present.