The State government has decided to release Rs.16 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to mitigate drinking water problems in rural areas in six districts, including Guntur, in the State.
The decision was taken after Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWS&S) Department informed that water problem aggravated due to deficit rainfall in Rayalaseema districts and delay in release of water from the Nagarjunasagar project canals in Prakasam and Guntur districts.
At present, water is being transported to 3,539 habitations in Chittoor, Kadapa, Anantapur, Prakasam, Guntur, Kurnool and Nellore districts, according to officials.
They said proposals to release funds have already been submitted as the problem is likely to compound owing to further delay in release of water from Nagarjunasagar canals.
Accordingly, the government has decided to release Rs.5 crore to Chittoor, Rs.3 crore each to Kadapa and Anantapur, Rs.2 crore each to Guntur and Prakasam and Rs.1 crore to Kurnool district.
Collectors from these districts should furnish utilisation certificates duly verified by State Audit Department and remit unspent amount, if any, to the government account.
A few months ago, the government has released Rs.40 crore from SDRF to 13 districts to meet drinking water requirement needs in the State in summer, said an official.
