Centre slams new drinking water projects proposed in Karnataka

Hurdles for implementation of rural drinking water projects under the National Rural Drinking Water Project Technical approval has been granted only for Pavagada permanent drinking water solution project. Under the 70 LPCD service models, budget for Rs 1703.69 crore was approved at the State level committee

The Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has slammed the State’s proposed new rural drinking water projects under the National Rural Drinking Water project, informed Rural Development Minister H K Patil.

Replying to a query by JD(S) MLA K M Thimmarayappa, during the question hour at the Assembly, the minister said technical approval has been granted only for Pavagada permanent drinking water solution project. There are hurdles to implement the other projects under the National Drinking Water Project.  The State government will take action to resolve the hurdles, he assured.

The State will write to the Centre to approve new water projects. Efforts are on to implement multiple village drinking water projects at villages in Pavagada, Molakalmuru, Chitradurga, Challakere, Bellary, Hospet and other 14 villages.

Under the 70 LPCD service models, budget for Rs 1703.69 crores was approved at the State level Projects Sanctioning Committee meeting, held on June 14, 2014, he said.

For the Pavagada drinking water project in Pavagada, Tumkur district,  50 per cent of the project cost will be subsidised by the SCP/TSP and the remaining 50 per cent will be give borne by Rural Development Department, he said.