The Cabinet sub-committee on NTR Sujala Sravanthi scheme to provide packaged drinking water to every habitation in Andhra Pradesh has tentatively decided to launch the first phase of the scheme from October.
Of 47,190 habitations in the State, about 5,200 villages were identified for supply in the first phase where at present the drinking water supply did not reach even 25 per cent of population in a habitation.
The committee comprising Ministers of Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Irrigation and Panchayat Raj held its first meeting here on Friday to discuss the frame work, technology to be adopted for treatment of water and supply of 20 litres of mineral water at Rs.2 for every household.
Sujala Sravanthi is one of the five announcements made by the Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu soon after his swearing in and was included in the Telugu Desam manifesto.
Briefing the media persons at the Secretariat, Panchayat Raj Minister Ch.Ayyanna Patrudu said that a seven member committee headed by expert and Technical advisor Kondal Rao has been constituted to study and submit a report in 15 days about the best technology, equipment and methodology for supply of mineral water and maintenance of equipment.
The technical committee would comprise representatives of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Ground Water, Public health, Rural Water Supply, Irrigation, Health (Institute of Preventive Medicine).
Mr Ayyanna Patrudu said that 16,742 habitations in the State were categorised under fully covered area, ie, 55 litres per capita for drinking and all other requirements.
The Sujala Sravanthi scheme however will confine itself for supplying 20 litres of drinking water per household.
The Government was considering involving youth, DWCRA women, NGOs in implementing the scheme and extend them loan upto Rs.3 lakh to install the equipment for water treatment, bore, motor and power supply.
On an average it is expected to cost upto Rs.6 lakh for installation of unit but the cost would come down to Rs.2 lakh if basic infrastructure facilities were available in a habitation, Mr Ayyanna Patrudu said.
