Women committees to keep a watch on water distribution

Hyderabad: Women water committees will oversee drinking water supply and collection of water cess in every village after the government provides water to them under Telangana Water Grid.

It has also been decided to bring in an ordinance to provide right to use land to ensure quick laying of pipelines for the mega water grid in the state. Villages headed by male sarpanch will have all-women water committees.

Telangana government took the decision to ensure effective implementation of water grid programme in 8,865 gram panchayats and 25,000 habitations including municipalities, corporations except Hyderabad to ensure proper collection of water tax after providing water connection to every household in the village, town and city.

“We decided to empower women with the task of overseeing drinking water supply in every village and collection of taxes. We have felt that women will ensure quality supervision as most of the times women have to fetch water. We plan to provide 100 litres per person per day in villages and 135 litres in towns,” said K.T. Rama Rao, minister for Panchayat Raj and IT.

Mr Rao, who visited Ranga Reddy district and interacted with transport minister P. Mahender Reddy, MPs, legislators and officials, said the water committees would ensure payment of water and property taxes in every village.

“In my constituency Sircilla, out of 92 panchayats, there is 100 per cent property and water tax collection in 85 gram panchayats. The taxes will ensure maintenance of the water supply system and other repairs. We will provide training to members of the water committees,” he explained.

“No Chief Minister ever dared to say that he or she would not seek vote if some project is not completed. But, our CM has said it. It shows government commitment to the project,”he added.