Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has decided to convene a special meeting to review the problems related to implementation of Multi Village Water Supply Scheme, under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme. However, the decision has come belatedly.
It is said that with poor flow of funds, the scheme being implemented in rural areas across the State is affected. However, the seriousness accorded to the issue has raised hopes that the government will start releasing funds to complete the large works under the scheme that have been stalled in various stages. The issue was brought to the attention of the Chief Minister recently by the legislators during the drought-review meeting here. Failure of the government to release adequate funds on time to implement the scheme had affected the drinking water needs of hundreds of villages in the State and Belagavi district was not an exception. As of now in Belagavi district, progress of works in respect of 26 schemes had come to halt for want of funds about six months ago. Bills amounting to Rs. 30 crore was pending to contractors.
With Maharashtra releasing one tmcft water into the Krishna River on Monday, the water is expected to reach Athani in a day or two. Eight schemes covering 80 villages in Athani, all linked to Krishna river, could become functional and there would be no need to engage tankers to supply drinking water, said V.J. Raikar, Executive Engineer, Karnataka Rural Water Supply Department.
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He said there were 37 ongoing schemes in the district, of which only 11 had been completed, 18 were nearing completion and six were still in the preliminary stage.