<p>Acknowledging the severe water crisis in the district, chairman of the Third State Finance Commission Implementation Task Force, A G Kodgi attributed the escalating problem to inefficient water distribution in the district. “It is a difficult period for drinking water,” he said.<br /><br /></p>.<p>On of the important observations of the task force is that a majority of water connections in rural areas in the district did not have a water meter. Member of the committee, Thimmegowda said that only five per cent of the water connections in rural areas of the district was fitted with water meters.<br /> <br />“The local bodies have been lethargic in their work and have not taken installing water meters seriously. There is also a role of vested interests for not installing water meters to water connections,” he said. <br /><br />He said that the committee would put forth recommendations to compulsorily install the meters and collect water taxes within a set deadline. Installation of the meters for all connections might take years to complete.<br /><br />Different tariff scales for domestic and other uses should also be introduced in rural areas to prevent the wastage of water and as a step towards efficient water management, Kodgi said.<br /><br />Speaking on the deteriorating water condition he suggested that an emergency action plan has to be drawn up by the district.<br /><br />Bore wells no solution<br /><br />Stating that digging more bore wells was not a solution to the drinking water problem, Kodgi said that district administration should strive towards completing the multi village drinking water schemes. <br /><br />Since ground water levels have taken a hit due to over exploitation, using surface water for domestic purposes would aid the rejuvenation of ground water sources, he said.<br /><br />Poor water cess collection<br /><br />Statistics provided by zilla panchayat reveals a dismal trend in the collection of water cess. Only 45.74 per cent of the water cess was collected in 2009-10, with the percentage marginally increasing to 48.07 per cent for the year 2010-11 and 53.64 per cent for 2011-12.<br /></p>
<p>Acknowledging the severe water crisis in the district, chairman of the Third State Finance Commission Implementation Task Force, A G Kodgi attributed the escalating problem to inefficient water distribution in the district. “It is a difficult period for drinking water,” he said.<br /><br /></p>.<p>On of the important observations of the task force is that a majority of water connections in rural areas in the district did not have a water meter. Member of the committee, Thimmegowda said that only five per cent of the water connections in rural areas of the district was fitted with water meters.<br /> <br />“The local bodies have been lethargic in their work and have not taken installing water meters seriously. There is also a role of vested interests for not installing water meters to water connections,” he said. <br /><br />He said that the committee would put forth recommendations to compulsorily install the meters and collect water taxes within a set deadline. Installation of the meters for all connections might take years to complete.<br /><br />Different tariff scales for domestic and other uses should also be introduced in rural areas to prevent the wastage of water and as a step towards efficient water management, Kodgi said.<br /><br />Speaking on the deteriorating water condition he suggested that an emergency action plan has to be drawn up by the district.<br /><br />Bore wells no solution<br /><br />Stating that digging more bore wells was not a solution to the drinking water problem, Kodgi said that district administration should strive towards completing the multi village drinking water schemes. <br /><br />Since ground water levels have taken a hit due to over exploitation, using surface water for domestic purposes would aid the rejuvenation of ground water sources, he said.<br /><br />Poor water cess collection<br /><br />Statistics provided by zilla panchayat reveals a dismal trend in the collection of water cess. Only 45.74 per cent of the water cess was collected in 2009-10, with the percentage marginally increasing to 48.07 per cent for the year 2010-11 and 53.64 per cent for 2011-12.<br /></p>
