Urban Mission Bhageeratha, designed to meet the drinking water needs of 163 villages within the limits of Outer Ring Road, was launched here on Wednesday. The project will bring water to 10 lakh people, announced K. Taraka Rama Rao Minister for Municipal Administration & Urban Development while laying the foundation stone near Kompally in Qutubullapur mandal.
The government will spend ₹ 623 crore on the project, out of which ₹ 79.49 crore will be spent on Qutubullapur mandal alone. Other heavily funded mandals include Saroornagar which is alloted 117.76 crore and Shameerpet with ₹ 96.72 crore funds. Other mandals where Bhangeeratha scheme will be implemented are Medchal, Keesara, Ghatkesar, Hayathnagar, Ibrahimpatnam, Maheswaram, Shamshabad, Rajendra Nagar and Pattancheruvu and RC Puram.
Addressing a gathering at the inaugural venue, the Minister asked Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board to draw up a plan that can help provide clean drinking water for gated communities and middle income households in all areas in ORR limits.
The massive project is expected to complete within a period of one year. Once completed, the watering project will supply 30 trillion gallons per day as against the current supply of ₹ 7 million gallons. “Pipelines will reach each locality and tap will be fitted in each home. People will spend less on medical expenses as we eradicate water borne diseases,” Mr. Rao said. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the mission in August 2016, it has made good progress in the past one year, the Minister pointed out. KTR also inaugurated water reservoir at Shapurnagar later during the day.
Criticises opposition
While India celebrated 70 years of independence not even a single party had provided even basic necessities including water to poor. “Mission Bhageeratha will solve Telangana’s water problem. A small State which was recently formed has become an example for the whole nation when it comes to water conservation. The opposition has no work because the government provides even before people makes request”. Indicating a Congress misgovernance, KTR said even two BHK scheme of TRS government is nothing like Congress government’s scheme. “Houses worth ₹ 20 lakh to ₹ 30 lakhs are being given out for free not like earlier times when the government forced people to take partial loans for housing,” Mr. Rao said.
