To put an end to drinking water woes of the people of Chittoor and Anantapur districts, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to replicate Kuppam drinking water model across the State and involve corporates and industrialists under the CSR initiatives in the projects.
Speaking at a review meeting with Panchayat Raj Department officials here today, the Chief Minister said, “There can be no compromise on drinking water supply to every household. Try providing mineral water to residents of Chittoor and Anantapur districts. Market the Kuppam model of drinking water supply. Provide drinking water to villages in dire need of water.”
Stating that the department was lagging in recharging structures, the Chief Minister directed officials to immediately work on recharging the existing structures and ensure that rain water is stored efficiently. “Complete all the old works under Rural Water Supply schemes on war-footing basis. We need to be able to provide at least 30TMC of drinking water in the coming years,” he added.
The Chief Minister also asked officials to work on an action plan to provide mineral water to isolate pockets in these two districts, immediately. “Work out a plan to meet drinking water needs of fluorosis-hit villages. This should include immediate plan, intermediate plan and a long-term plan,” the Chief Minister added. Under NREGS works, completion and upgradation of rain water harvesting pits in the state should be done, the Chief Minister suggested. This, he said, can be done by increasing accountability of Sarpanches.
“While providing water to households in these districts, we can fix metres at panchayat-level to monitor the supply and charge maintenance,” he said, adding that this will increase accountability of sarpanches and help them monitor water usage. Further, the Chief Minister suggested that capacity building workshops be held to train sarpanches. He also asked the officials to make all the services of panchayats online in all the 12,918 panchayats through Panchayat Raj Institution & Management System (PRIM). (NSS)