Pending drinking water projects draw flak

The State government’s prestigious multi-village drinking water projects taken up with crores of rupees have been abandoned midway, causing huge loss to the exchequer and also disappointing thousands of villagers in the region.

The State government had constituted several divisions for the implementation of the projects. But, most of the projects which had to be completed in a few years have been left incomplete even after years. The main reason is said to be the negligence of the ZP officials.
Though the district stands first in the State in construction of toilets, water is essential for using them. With no proper water supply, the main objective of making the district open defecation free will fail.

The projects are in a pathetic state and in various stages before it was stalled. While some minor water projects have tanks there are no connections and vice versa.

Water projects at Kokkarebellur in Maddur taluk and 16 other villages, Bookanakere in K R Pet taluk and 21 villages, K R Sagar in Srirangapatna and five villages, Aralukuppe in Pandavapura and 62 villages have been taken up at a cost of more than Rs 60 crore and have been dumped. Due to the delay, providing permanent water supply is still a distant dream.

A water tank has been constructed at Tirumalapura at a cost of Rs 20 lakh at Pandavapura taluk. Similarly, a tank was constructed at B Shettihalli at a cost of Rs 15 lakh. Even after two years, water has not been supplied to these tanks. The villagers question the purpose of constructing tanks spending lakhs, when they are not put to use and the officials’ negligence over the issue.