Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash has expressed satisfaction with the drought relief activities in the district.
He said the State government would give its nod to various projects submitted by the district administration. A proposal to purify water in stone quarries for distribution as drinking water has got the green signal. The Minister said the district could be a model for the unification of fares for distribution of drinking water in tankers.
Mr. Prakash was interacting with district collectors and other senior officials through video-conferencing as part of reviewing the drought relief activities in districts.
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District Collector P.I. Sheikh Pareeth said the district had spent Rs.4.95 crore out of Rs.6.51 crore allotted for drinking water distribution and various drinking water projects. Of this, Rs.3.20 crore was spent on water distribution and Rs.1.80 crore on various construction works. The collector said of the 367 construction works, 330 had been completed. The government had allocated Rs.1.85 crore during this fiscal. Another Rs.1.56 crore would be allotted shortly.
Every day drinking water worth Rs.6 lakh is being distributed across the district benefitting 169 panchayats. Though municipalities had also asked for distribution of water through tankers, the government had asked them to use indigenous funds for the purpose.
Tender formalities had been simplified in connection with drinking water distribution. The collector said drinking water shortage in Vypeen would be resolved within three months, as laying of pipelines was in progress.
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A special control room has been opened at the collectorate for coordinating the drought relief works. Cases are being registered by anti-theft squads formed to check misuse of water.