Southern States
-
Karnataka
Work on water scheme suspended
By Our Staff Correspondent
Raichur, Jan. 28. After a cold winter, the people of Raichur city are experiencing sweltering heat. The citizens are already faced with drinking water problem as in the last few days the day temperature has constantly touched 36 degree Celsius.
The drinking water augmentation project for the city has been suspended for want of funds.
When Dharam Singh, Minister for Public Works, was incharge Minister of the district, he kept a close watch over the implementation of the second stage Rs.28-crore drinking water augmentation scheme.
However, the political scenario in the district saw a change with the inclusion of Raja Amareshwara Naik in the Krishna Cabinet. He was made the district incharge Minister on January 4.
Since the day Mr. Singh stopped his visit to Raichur, the work on the drinking water augmentation scheme progressed at a snail's pace.
Neither the district administration nor the city municipal council have taken steps to pursue the matter with the official concerned to speed up the work on the scheme.
Even Syed Yasin, Raichur MLA, has failed to take any step to ensure the speedy completion of the scheme. On the other hand, Venkatesh Naik, Raichur MP, has remained silent over the issue as if he has no responsibility in looking into the problems of the people in his constituency.
Mr. Amareshwara Naik, who has hardly visited Raichur after assuming charge, has not reviewed the progress of work on the drinking water scheme. He has not tried to understand the problems of the citizens who have been facing drinking water problem since the past 15 days. During his rare visit to Raichur, he was busy with his personal work.
This summer, the problem of drinking water supply will be more severe especially for those residing in extensions.
The city municipality has expressed its inability to ensure normal water supply from the existing Rampur Water Works to all the areas in the city.
Especially in the extensions, including Vasavinagar, Jawaharnagar, Savitri Colony, NGO's Colony, Vidyanagar, Panchamukhi Colony, Maniknagar Layout, ITI and Polytechnic localities in the city, the drinking water supply problem has become severe since in the past one week.
These localities mainly depend on underground water source for their water supply through borewells and open wells. But the water level in most of the open wells and borewells has declined.
The city municipal council and the district administration have not taken any alternative measures to solve the water supply problem in these localities.
The early commission of the second stage drinking water scheme is the only solution to augment water supply to these problematic areas.
So far about Rs.16 crore has been spent on the scheme. About 90 per cent of the work has been completed. It is possible to commission the scheme soon, if the pending work of three km rising main near the city is completed. The board is in need of Rs.5 crore, which includes pending bills of about Rs.3 crore, to commission the scheme.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Southern States
|
