C'magaluru seeks Rs 2.05 cr to check drinking water shortage

Six villages in Lakya hobli provided drinking water in tankers: DC

A proposal seeking funds of Rs 2.05 crore, to mitigate the drinking water shortage faced in Chikkamagaluru district, has been submitted to the government, Deputy Commissioner G Satyavathi has said.

Speaking to mediapersons on Tuesday, she said that the district administration has taken the issue of water shortage seriously. “As per the report submitted by the Zilla Panchayat on water shortage, a proposal seeking Rs 2.05 crore fund has been submitted to the government. Drinking water is supplied in tankers to six villages in Lakya hobli,” she said, highlighting the gravity of situation in the district.

Stating that deficit rainfall has affected crops in the district, she said that the groundwater table is depleting drastically in the district. The Deputy Commissioner said that the MLAs and theZilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer will chalk out programmes for mitigating the water crisis. “Panchayat development officers have been directed to supply drinking water from private borewells. The borewell drilling unit owners and agencies are required to register with the district administration by furnishing the required documents. Only seven owners in the district have registered so far,” she pointed out, adding, “The borewell drilling machines are mostly from Tamil Nadu.”

The officer also mentioned that the district administration has taken measures to distribute title deeds to the bagair hukum cultivators within December. The Revenue Department officials have been directed to clear the applications by convening a meeting under the guidance of MLAs in each Assembly constituency.

“There is also a need to give thrust on maintenance of cleanliness in town. The public should join hands with the City Municipal Council in doing so. The civic workers have been outsourced to carry out sanitation and cleanliness work in 19 wards. The permanent civic workers of the City Municipal Council will take up cleanliness work in the remaining 16 wards. There are complaints of civic workers failing to collect garbage from households and shops. A sanitation meeting will be convened every Tuesday from next week to look into the progress of the work,” she explained. On the work on MG Road, the deputy commissioner said that the contractors have been directed to complete the work by November.