‘Use pvt borewells, don’t drill new ones’

The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) has directed zilla panchayat chief executive officers to rely on private borewells instead of drilling new ones to supply drinking water to drought-hit villages.

Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar and RDPR principal secretary L K Atheeq chaired a meeting to review the drought situation with chief executive officers of the zilla panchayats.

According to data, there are 2,424 villages facing a drinking water problem. Of this, 1,141 villagers are being supplied with drinking water through tankers and there are 1,201 private borewells being used currently.

“We have directed officials to focus on emergency works and use up available funds. We’ve sanctioned Rs 450 crore of which Rs 125 crore has been released. The balance will be released going forward,” Atheeq said. “Instead of drilling new bore wells, officials have been asked to make use of private borewells by convincing farmers,” he added.