405 villages to get water in tankers

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 153.91 crore and a detailed report has already been prepared by the department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj as per the guidelines issued by the Centre.

Drilling of as many as 969 new borewells, recharging of groundwater level and laying of new water pipelines also form part of the project to mitigate drinking water crisis during summer, sources in RDPR department said.

Cost of transporting the tanker to the villages will cost Rs 500 per trip and each village will need at least four tankers every day, it has been estimated. A total of Rs 70,000 has been set aside for drilling each new borewell. All deputy commissioners have been directed to earmark Rs one crore from the Calamity Relief Fund for meeting drinking water needs in each district.

Decline in ground water level coupled with power shortage has resulted in severe drinking water shortage in rural pockets of the state. “The government promised six hours of three-phase power supply in rural areas. However, it is not being implemented.

We hardly get four hours of power. Sometimes its only for two hours. We have stand in long queues to collect a bucket of water”, says Nagaveni of Santhekahalli village of Anekal taluk. Among the villages where drinking water will be supplied in tankers are: Bangalore Rural 13; Bangalore Urban 14; Ramanagara 15, Kolar 12, Chikballapur 15 and Tumkur 12.