Delay in rural drinking water supply works irks panel

The state- level committee for rural drinking water supply and sanitation expressed its discomfiture over the delay in the setting up of clean drinking water units and construction of toilets in rural areas.

The committee reviewed the progress of the works under the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation and the Swacch Bharat Campaign.

Reviewing the works in Dakshina Kannada, in a meeting convened at the Zilla Panchayat Hall in Mangaluru on Monday, committee chairperson and former MLA S G Nanjaiahnamutt said that the spill over works in the year have not been completed and set a deadline of February for completion of works.

The chairperson criticised the lackadaisical approach by KRIDL and warned of initiating stern action such as lodging of criminal cases against the contractors who have not completed the works.

The ZP executive engineer said that of the 375 works in the district, 297 have been completed. When Nanjaiahnamutt asked about the pending works, the officials concerned were unable to quote the statistics, which left the chairperson disappointed. He expressed his displeasure over the working pattern, saying the officials do not have administrative knowledge, and also ordered completion of spill over works by the next two months.

The official said works under multi-village scheme have been fulfilled at Malavoor, Sangabettu and Karopadi. Works at Mani and Kinnigoli are under progress. Works have been sanctioned at Sarapadi and Narikombu.

Reviewing the progress of the district with respect to the setting up of clean drinking water units, Nanjaiahnamutt noted that despite earmarking significant funds, the work has not been up to the mark.

He further said that the government had earmarked Rs 54,000 crore in its state budget, towards rural development programmes. Also, 103 legal amendments had been introduced towards empowering zilla and taluk panchayats and formation of ward committees, 460 new gram panchayats have been formed. A rural university has been set up at Gadag and 316 students have enrolled for studies.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr M R Ravi said that construction of 1,000 mini vented dams in rural areas are already in progress and 263 works have been completed so far. The project aims to improve the water table.

The progress of the works under task force, water purification plants, solid and liquid waste management, public toilets and the Chief Minister's 21-point programme were also reviewed by the committee.

Committee members R Tippeswamy and Bidigesi Raju were present during the meeting.