JOIN USDist admin seeks corpus fund to supply drinking water
With summer fast approaching, the district administration on Monday sought corpus fund to take up precautionary measures to tackle the drinking water crisis.
In her explanation, Deputy Commissioner C Shikha told Revenue and District in-charge Minister V Srinivas Prasad during the Karnataka Development Programmes (KDP) progress review meeting held at Zilla Panchayat hall here, that water supply situation in the district this year was unpredictable. In the previous year, measures to address the drinking water related woes were taken up, following the declaration of four taluks (Mysuru, K R Nagar, T Narsipur and Nanjangud) in the district as drought hit owing to scant rainfall. Corpus fund of Rs one crore was sanctioned for the purpose, with the funds available under natural calamity. “It will be helpful, if the corpus fund is provided for the current year too,” she added.
Tankers used
The Deputy Commissioner further said that Jayapura hobli in Mysuru taluk continues to be reeling under drinking water crisis, with water still being supplied from tankers.
Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer P A Gopal said that a proposal for Rs 40.85 crore to take up the works to address the drinking water related woes had been pending before the government. On the other hand, continuing with the welfare schemes, water is being supplied through tankers at 14 villages in the district.
Joint Director of Agriculture Department Mahanteshappa said that there was an improvement in situation this year with a good spell of rainfall, when compared to last year.
Hunsur MLA H P Manjunath who raised the issue, said that it was imperative to initiate measures to improve drinking water supply, as people were taking to streets demanding water.
The legislator said the measure to drill borewells was unscientific owing to depletion of ground water table.
Minister Srinivas Prasad advised the Deputy Commissioner and ZP CEO to hold an exclusive meeting to chalk out measures in this regard. It could be opening goshalas (centre to feed cattle) or creating jobs for farmers who have been rendered jobless due to the lack of adequate water.
He also directed the officials to take a cue from Chamarajanagar LS constituency where lakes are being filled with river water, with the sole intention of recharging the ground water table.