JOIN USDK Zilla Panchayat ready to tackle water woes this summer
The Zilla Panchayat has initiated several elaborate measures to tackle the impending drinking water problem during this summer.
As many as 44 villages which face acute shortage of water have been identified and water is supplied to 24 villages through tankers.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr K N Vijayaprakash said that GPS equipment will be installed on tankers supplying drinking water to areas, which face acute shortage during summer. This is to ensure that the water is supplied to the needy only. The GPS technology will also bring in transparency in the water supply system.
He said a toll-free helpline will be set up in each taluk. Taluk officials have been directed to attend to complaints regarding shortage of water immediately.
“Taluk panchayat and gram panchayats have been directed to maintain a separate register to record complaints and measures taken to set right the problem. Taluk Panchayat EOs, Assistant Executive Engineers and Panchayat Development Officers will be held responsible if the scarcity of water continues for several days,” he said.
“As soon as taluk panchayat receives any complaint on scarcity of water, then the engineers should visit the spot and prepare a detailed report and find a solution to the problem immediately,” he said.
Convergence of funds
The CEO said that officials have been directed to converge the availability of funds under Calamity Relief Fund, MLA Task Force, special grants available with the Zilla Panchayat and contingency fund, to take up immediate work related to water projects. The government has released Rs 5.48 crore under the contingency action plan. “Without convergence of funds, many water related projects remain incomplete. MLA Task Force can only sanction funds for drilling borewells. It cannot undertake work related to laying pipeline, electrification and distribution system. The funds will have to be raised from the Calamity Relief Fund for the same. Hence, convergence of the funds will help in solving many of the technical problems,” he added.
He said the district administration has taken a decision to grant permission for drilling borewells only in exceptional cases. The engineers have been directed to take up the work on flushing, hydro-fracturing and deepening of the borewells, to revive the already existing borewells in the district.