CM chairs meeting to take stock of drinking water situation, Jal Jeevan Mission and Indira Canteens

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday chaired a meeting to take stock of the drinking water situation in different parts of the state, the fate of Indira Canteens and the progress of the Jal Jeevan mission.

The monsoon season is officially said to have set in on June 10 in the state and till June 11, there has been a 67 per cent deficiency in rain. The Met department says the monsoon will be normal in the coming days.

The CM also held a video conference with the district administration of Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district where drinking water problems have arisen over the last few weeks. In 322 villages of 15 districts, water is being supplied through tankers and 148 private borewells.

Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have been witnessing drinking water shortage, but the situation is expected to ease after the monsoon sets in. In Raichur and Koppal districts, though there is no shortage of drinking water, cases of water contamination have repeated occurred, which the government has taken serious note of.

Senior officials of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department have been asked to visit the affected villages and file a report, based on which Chief Secretary Vandana Sharma will be directed to initiate action.

Zilla panchayat CEOs have been directed to visit the taluks and monitor the functioning of the panchayat development officers (PDOs). The offficials were also directed to check the quality of the pipes used to provide tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan mission and to ensure that instances of water contamination do not recur. Wherever there is drinking water shortage, arrangement have to be made within 24 hours without waiting for administrative approval, the officials were told.

The CM also directed the officials to visit the Indira Canteens and to file a report on the condition of the structures. Wherever repairs are necessary, they should be carried out, he said. The CM said the food should be of good quality and the prescribed menu should be followed diligently. The tenders are being plannned to be called zone-wise in Bengalulru  and the officials were instructed to maintain transparency.

The officials were also asked to provide North Karnataka style food in those regions and to submit proposals for new Indira Canteens near colleges, hospitals, bus stands and taluk offices which see more crowds. In Bengaluru, BBMP will bear 50 per cent of the cost while in other cities, the local bodies will bear 30 per cent of the cost. The remainder will be borne by the state government.