The State Government has achieved 85 target in making open-defecation free and coming October 2 the state representatives will declare 10 districts as totally free of open-defecation stated Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil, reported Kannada Prabha.
Participating in a phone-in program with public on Suvarana TV on Sunday in the Hello Minister program, the Minister said it is the aim of the State Government to provide every house with a toilet and only in inevitable cases public toilets are being constructed.
The RDPR has a wide scope of work. Its problems and administrations are also equally mammoth. After introducing transparency in Narega project, 80 per cent corruption has been uprooted and 70 per cent efficiency has been achieved. The Central Government also has appreciated the achievements of the department, he said.
The Minister said it is his wish that the rural public should be provided with clean drinking water as clean as what the Prime Minister drinks. Water treatment plants are being set up in rural regions for this purpose. Funds have been allocated in the budget for setting up of 2500 clean drinking water units at rural regions. Currently the unit is being set up in villages with over 2000 population. Eventually it will be extended to all villages, he said.
Answering a question from one Amaranath from pavagada, he said the State Cabinet has recently approved a Rs 2250 crore project to provide drinking water to Kudligi town, 15 villages in Hosapete, Bellary district, Turuvanuru, Molakalmuru in Chitradurga district and Pavagada in Tumkuru.
When one Christopher told him that a water pipe was broken and water was being wasted in Rekulagi village in Bidar taluk, he assured that it would be repaired within 24 hours.
A man from Mandya complained that PDO was not appointed for Marasatanahalli in Mandya taluk and that the panchayat office did not have a own building. The Minister said Rs 20 lakhs has been sanctioned for construction of panchayaths that have own land. Till then the panchayath has to work in rented building. A PDO will be immediately appointed on ad hoc basis, he said.
The Minister appreciated the efforts made by Belur taluk Angadihalli PDO in getting houses and toilets sanctioned for Hakki Pikki tribe and assured he would discuss with district in charge minister A Manju regarding sanctioning sites to the homeless.