People living in more than 50 per cent of the villages and tandas in Kalaburagi district are yet to be provided the standard prescribed minimum quantity of drinking water every day. As per official estimates, as many as 790 habitations out of the total 1,269 villages and tandas were not provided the standard minimum quantity of drinking water as prescribed. Only 470 habitations were being now provided 70 litres per capacity daily as per the fixed norms.
One of the reasons cited by official sources for not meeting the prescribed standards in supplying drinking water was the delay in completing the multi-village schemes, which would provide the prescribed quantity of quality drinking water to the residents of these villages. Out of the total 24 multi-village schemes taken up in the district, only eight have been completed covering 33 villages and another 16 multi-village schemes are under progress. Once these 16 multi-village schemes were completed another 62 villages would be getting more than the prescribed limit of drinking water.
Official sources told The Hindu in here on Thursday that another reason for the failure to achieve the target of providing 70 litres of quality water to each of the residents in the villages was the failure on the part of the government to provide the promised funds every year. As against Rs. 133.04 crore proposed for drinking water projects in the district during 2014-15, the actual allocation was only Rs. 80.30 crore and so far only Rs. 63.43 crore has been released. Sources said that even now the problem of villages and hamlets affected by harmful chemical contamination, like nitrate and fluoride in excess than the prescribed levels, is yet to be solved. Out of the total 70 villages which were affected by this problem, so far alternative drinking water has been provided to 34 villages. In the remaining 46 villages, the problem remained unresolved. The installation and commissioning of all the 143 RO plants sanctioned to the district has not been done. So far only 57 RO plants have been commissioned.
‘Delay in completing water schemes and release of funds affecting supply’
143 RO plants sanctioned to the district have not been done installed
