Local bodies to supply water using own funds this summer

Kozhikode Corpn can spend up to ₹22.50 lakh from Plan fund for the purpose

Summer blues: Underprivileged families settled on the outskirts of Kozhikode city face severe water shortage during the summer season.

The local self-government bodies in the district can now earmark enough funds for supplying drinking water using tanker lorries or water kiosks during the summer months, thanks to a new government norm. This will be in addition to the ongoing efforts to revive unused water sources.

The government has allowed panchayats to spend up to ₹11 lakh each from their Plan funds to meet water supply costs in April and May. All the 70 grama panchayats will be able to take advantage of this. Coastal villages, where saline water intrusion is a huge problem during summer, will be major beneficiaries of the new norm. The six municipalities, Vadakara, Koyilandy, Ramanattukara, Feroke, Payyoli, Koduvalli and Mukkam, will be able to spend up to ₹16.50 lakh each to meet the cost of local water distribution during April and May. For the Kozhikode Corporation, the permitted amount is ₹22.50 lakh.

Local administrators hope that the permission extended by the government will largely address the concerns of people, who are yet to have the Kerala Water Authority connections or alternative sources to manage the summer crisis.

“We also hope to get a special fund shortly from the State government to support the drive. On Saturday, the panchayats are likely to get an instruction in this regard,” said district panchayat president Babu Parassery.

“This year, we got the order to spend own fund at the right time and it will definitely help the people,” he pointed out.

“Though the panchayats have been given permission to spend the amount, there will be a proper monitoring mechanism to ensure that the fund is spent in a justifiable way covering all the needy segments,” an officer attached to the Local Self-Government Department (LSGD) said.

Detailed report to be submitted

All the local body heads concerned would have to submit a detailed report to the district administration about the activities initiated under the scheme during the term, he pointed out.

A close monitoring mechanism will be in place to avoid controversies associated with the misuse or diversion of funds without covering the intended beneficiaries.

LSGD officials said directions had been issued to make use of the Global Positioning System tag for all tanker lorries hired for the purpose. The move is to track the position of tanker lorries and ensure that they cater for the targeted beneficiaries as planned.