The Hindu : Task forces to oversee water supply

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 08, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Shimoga

Task forces to oversee water supply

By Our Special Correspondent

SHIMOGA, FEB. 7. The Minister for Health and Family Welfare and district in-charge, Kagodu Thimmappa, said here on Saturday that taluk-level task forces had been constituted to oversee drinking water supply in their respective areas in consultation with the gram panchayats.

Addressing presspersons after reviewing the implementation of drought relief works, he said tahsildars, who had been made convenors of the task forces, had been asked to send a status report to the district headquarters every Monday. He said they had also been asked to submit an action plan within a week's time on the drinking water supply, including the augmentation of water supply by deepening borewells and transportation of water to villages through tankers.

A comprehensive action plan would be prepared to ease the drinking water scarcity, which was likely to aggravate from March, he added. The Minister said the Government would enter into agreements with the owners of borewells and open wells, particularly in rural areas, to supply water to people.

He said the district received 7,230 tonnes of foodgrain from the Centre and Rs. 71 lakh as cash component this month.This should be utilised by February 25, he said and added that 1,765 works were proposed to be taken up with the assistance.

While 3,360 tonnes of foodgrain would be allocated to implement works under the "Food for work" scheme, 1,228 tonnes would be distributed among labourers as pay for the construction of kitchens under the Akshara Dasoha programme in government primary schools.

The Minister said 1,228 kitchens in rural areas and 195 kitchens in urban areas would be constructed under the drought relief works.

Mr. Thimmappa said it had been decided to sanction Rs. 80 lakh a month to each taluk in the district, which totalled to Rs. 16.5 crore for the next three months. He said 895 relief works would be taken up at a cost of Rs. 9 crore and 709 road works at a cost of Rs. 7 crore.

Asked about the fodder position, the Deputy Commissioner, Tushar Girinath, said there was no fodder shortage as the Forest Department had stocked 150 tonnes of fodder while 100 tonnes was stocked in government farms. Fodder would be allocated to each taluk based on its need.

He said there had been no demand for fodder so far.

When it was pointed out that foodgrain allotted under the Food for work scheme was being misused, Mr. Thimmappa said action would be taken against people found guilty.

Mr. Girinath said two officials, including a junior engineer, had been placed under suspension in this regard.

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