Govt planning for piped drinking water to all villages

Rural Development & Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister Krishna Byre Gowda announced that the State Government is designing a Rs 53,000 crore 'Jaladhare' piped drinking water supply project for all villages in the State, while the preparation for the project implementation launch may take one year, while the duration of the project would be around six years.

"We will not depend on bore-wells as we need water in all seasons. Rivers, dams and other permanent water sources would be identified to draw water, and models of drinking water supply projects already implemented are being studied now. Mapping, technical designing, funds mobilisation and other preparatory works would take one year of time. This would be a permanent solution for drinking water problem in rural areas, and this model is already started in some parts of Gadag district," he said.

After inspecting Yarinarayanpur multi-village drinking supply project at Kiresur, and other works at different villages in the taluk on Wednesday, Krishna Byre Gowda noted that these visits are aimed at studying the existing situation, and working models to plan for the 'Jaladhare' scheme for all human habitats in rural areas.

We are in search of perennial water sources for this project, while rivers and dams would be used. We do not want to get stuck into complications related to diversion of west-flowing rivers through western ghats, but they can be used to supply water to adjacent villages there, he clarified.

On Mahadayi

The project to divert water from Mahadayi basin to Malaprabha river comes under the irrigation department. I have asked them to hand over the work to supply drinking water to villages en-route to the RDPR department, the minister said.

Under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGREGS), the Union Government had to give Rs 1,090 crore for 2016-17, and Rs 900 crore is still pending, he lamented.

When asked about having two or lengthier session of the State Legislature in Belagavi, or shifting some offices to Suvarna Vidhan Soudha there, the minister said the Cabinet has to take a decision. In reply to a query on the recent trend of clash between officials and elected representatives in local bodies, he said, "we will try to find out a solution".

Visit

During his visit to multi-village water supply project at Kiresur, he suggested installing one more purification unit, as the colour of the water changes during the rainy season, though the water is potable.

At Kiresur Gram Panchayat, he suggested to take up more works needed, like check-dams, spending up to Rs five crore under the MGNREGS. He also noted that bankers have been asked not to adjust MGNREGS wages with the loans of farmers. He also suggested to improve tax collection and to construct row toilets for individuals, instead of seeking funds from MLAs and ministers for everything.

Krishna Byre Gowda also inspected classroom construction at the primary school at Hebsur, tank, CC roads, and a banana plantation developed under MGNREGS and Horticulture Department scheme at Byahatti, and onion storage unit at Sulla.

MLA Shankar Patil Munenakoppa, RDPR Department Principal Secretary L K Atheeq, ZP CEO Snehal Rayamane, and others were present.