Preparations made to tackle likely drinking water crisis in Yadgir

The district administration, the Zilla Panchayat and the District Urban Development Cell (DUDC) have made preparations to tackle the likely drinking water crisis in Yadgir district during summer.

Addressing a joint press conference in Yadgir on Thursday, Deputy Commissioner Harshal Bhoyar, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Lavish Ordia and Project Director of DUDC Laxmikanth Reddy said that the people of rural and urban areas may have to face drinking water problems during April and May.

However, necessary steps have been taken to attend to drinking water crisis as a top priority, they said.

The Deputy Commissioner said that three major reservoirs, Basavasagar in Narayanpur, Sannati in Sannati village and Gurusanagi near Yadgir city, have enough water storage to meet drinking water demand during summer.

However, precautions have been taken for proper utilisation of water considering various aspects, including natural evaporation. Officers have been asked to be ready to take necessary action to provide drinking water expeditiously, in case of any shortage.

“Basavasagar reservoir, where the total storage level is 492.25 m, has water storage up to 491.15 m, followed by Sannati (total storage 376 m, current storage 373.90 m) and Gurusanagi, which has a total storage level of 359 m and current storage of 357.80 m. Since the district depends on these major reservoirs, the authorities and departments concerned have been directed to make proper usage of water, without wasting it for any reason,” Mr. Bhoyar said.

Mr. Ordia said that a total of 65 villages across the district have been identified as problematic. Officers have been directed to take immediate action to flush and deepen borewells on need basis and also hire private borewells in emergencies. He added that of the 65 villages, 16 villages are facing crisis in March itself. And, it is likely that 25 villages may face water shortage in April, while 24 villages may be affected in May.

To attend calls concerning drinking water shortage, helpline numbers have been made available for the public in each taluk panchayat and also at the district headquarters, he said and added that nodal officers have been appointed to supervise the process and take immediate action for supplying drinking water.

Comparing last year’s figures, the ZP CEO said: “We identified 91 villages as problematic last year, of which two, Yampad and Yaktapur, faced acute water problems. The crisis in these two villages was attended by laying pipelines using ₹65 lakh under the KKRDB grant.”

The Zilla Panchayat is paying more attention to supplying potable drinking water by examining water before it is supplied. Water sample examination is done at three stages at the gram panchayat level, the Rural Water Supply Department and the Primary Health Centre of the Health Department. As many as 23,310 tests were done last year, of which 127 samples were found to be contaminated. Thus, the Zilla Panchayat blocked such water sources and prevented people from using water for drinking purposes, Mr Ordia said and added that a microbiology testing laboratory has been established at a cost of ₹50 lakh in Yadgir city to test water.

He also said that Reverse Osmosis Plants (ROPs) are helping supply potable water. Under the Zilla Panchayat, a total of 417 ROPs are coming up. Of these, 252 are functioning and the rest (219 ROPs) are under repair. Grants for repairing 92 ROPs have already been released and a proposal to undertake repair works on the remaining has been sent to the State government.

Mr. Ordia said that all taluk panchayat executive officers, panchayat development officers and gram panchayats have been directed to clean overhead tanks once in 15 days. They have also been asked to use bleaching powder around working borewells and send GPS photos to the Zilla Panchayat to make sure that water storage places are kept clean.

The ZP CEO said that a major drinking water project under Jaladhare has been taken up at a cost of ₹1,605.18 crore. Under the project, 696 habitations and three urban local bodies, Kakkera, Kembhavi and Hunsagi, will get drinking water, as 60% of the physical work has been completed. The balance work will be completed in the next year.

Government schools, anganwadis and other educational institutions have been provided drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission. GESCOM officials have been asked to ensure power supply to pumpsets enabling authorities to supply drinking water without interruption, he said.

Mr. Laxmikanth Reddy said that a major drinking water work which supplies drinking water from the Bhima to Yadgir city under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0) has been taken up at a cost of ₹300 crore. It will shortly be completed.

He added that land issues and the process to get permission from the railway and national highway departments is causing a delay in implementing the project.

The Deputy Commissioner said that there is no dearth of funds for drinking water purposes. He said that a sum of ₹13 crore is available in the PD account.

He added that the district has adequate fodder, as the existing stock can be used for 58 weeks.

The Deputy Commissioner said that there is no shortage in domestic cylinder supply. Refilling of commercial cylinders has been completely stopped and officers have been asked to make surprise visits to commercial places to prevent them from using domestic cylinders for commercial purposes.

The general public can call tahsildars in the respective taluks and also the Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies on 08473-253707 for any problem in domestic supply, he said.