Date:09/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/09/stories/2006010902790300.htm

Karnataka - Belgaum

Solve water crisis in villages, officials told

Staff Correspondent

Minister reviews progress of works taken up by the zilla panchayat

Zilla panchayat supplying water to 10 villages by tankers
Gram panchayats told to improve tax collections

30 villages selected for implementing `Namma Bhoomi-Namma Tota' programme

Belgaum: Minister of State for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Basavaraj Horatti has directed the zilla panchayat to provide permanent drinking water supply systems to 45 villages suffering from drinking water scarcity in the district.

He was reviewing the progress of works taken up by the zilla panchayat with the officials in the presence of district in-charge and Minister for Agriculture Marketing Prakash B. Hukkeri.

Taking serious note of shortage of drinking water in these villages, including 10 villages where the zilla panchayat is providing water by tankers, the Minister advised the officials concerned to construct check-dams in all such problem villages to arrest rainwater and thereby recharge underground water table.

He also advised the gram panchayats to improve tax collections by taking up a drive once in a week, preferably every Monday.

The said that the government has identified 30 villages falling in 27 gram panchayats to implement "Namma Bhoomi-Namma Tota" programme.

Mr. Hukkeri advised the officials to expedite all the ongoing works to realise targets set during the current financial year.