Shortage of sand prolongs drinking water woes in Mandya

The multi-village drinking water project in Maddur taluk, has hit a roadblock due to shortage of sand.

The project was launched eight years ago hoping to quench the thirst of residents of 34 villages. The works have come to a standstill since one year, putting people into hardship.

The project was launched in the year 2008 and a Mysuru-based company Skilltech Engineers and Contractors had bagged the contract. The works, which was already progressing at a snail’s pace right since its launch, came to a complete halt last year due to non-availability of sand.

Taking cognisance of problems faced by the people at his native, former chief minister S M Krishna  who hails from Maddur taluk in the district, had written a letter to Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil in March. In his letter, Krishna wanted the minister to take it on a priority and resume works.

Krishna in his letter had also mentioned that the Mandya Deputy Commissioner Ajay Nagabushan is seized of the issue.

In his reply to a similar petition in the month of January itself, the officer had assured to take steps to ensure necessary sand within a month to resume the works. But, nothing has materialised yet even after two months.

Patil who seemed to have understood magnitude of the issue, had promised media later to take necessary steps. But, no steps has been taken so far.

Krishna had even written to the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra in April, when he had visited the district for drought assesment, highlighting the issue. According to sources, 1,570 cubic metres of sand (200 truck loads) is required for the completion of works on building a  water purification unit under the multi-village drinking water project.

Executive Engineer of Karnataka Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Division Chandrahas had written a letter on May 3 to the public works department (PWD) seeking sand. Despite several letters being dispatched to the minister and authorities concerned, no steps have been taken so far to restart the project.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Chandrahas, reiterated that the department has already written a letter to PWD in this regard. If sand is supplied, the works would be completed in another one month.