Karnataka - Bidar   

Water shortage dominates KDP meeting

Staff Correspondent

MLAs want task force committees to implement water supply schemes

Bidar: A review meeting of the Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) was held in Bidar on Friday. Drinking water shortage haunting some villages in the district took precedence over the agenda. The MLAs demanded that the Government should implement all drinking water supply schemes in the district through the task force committees headed by them. "We are not happy with the panchayat bodies implementing the schemes as they are not doing quality work," MLA Rajendra Verma said.

MLA Prakash Khandre said that the people complained of drinking water shortage in all the villages he visited. "People question us if they don't get water. They don't complain to officials or zilla panchayat members. We are answerable to them. Therefore, all the drinking water schemes should be implemented through the taluk-level task forces headed by MLAs," he said. Mr. Khandre asked the officials to ensure daily supply of drinking water to Bhalki town within a week.

Mr. Verma also demanded that the officials in charge of implementing various schemes should take the MLAs into confidence. "Officials should consult us before starting a scheme. MLAs keep touring the district and know the problems of the people more than officials who spend most of their time inside the office," he said.

Villages such as Ambewadi in Basava Kalyan taluk are suffering from drinking water scarcity for eight years now. "I have been complaining to the zilla panchyat about it. But the panchayat has not taken any steps towards solving it," he said.

MLAs also criticised Gulbarga Electric Supply Company for failing to provide power to borewells and pumpsets attached to the drinking water supply schemes. Agriculture Minister Bandeppa Kashempur observed that power supply connection was pending for nearly 45 schemes in the district. He directed officials to provide power to these schemes immediately.

Aurad Taluk Panchayat president Govind Bheema Jadhav complained that all the officials posted in Aurad stayed in Bidar and none were available after office hours. Mr. Kashempur warned officials against being ignoring people's problems. Officials told the House that the Government had issued directions that borewells should not be dug indiscriminately. Water supply by tankers is preferred over digging of borewells, Executive Engineer N.A. Patil said.

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Water shortage dominates KDP meeting

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