Andhra Pradesh: Many find norms for Amrut tough

Kakinada: People living below the poverty line (BPL) have appealed to the state government to relax norms on getting tap connections under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) scheme. People having white cards are eligible to get tap connections for drinking water supplied by the Kakinada Municipal Corporation by paying Rs 200. However, they have to produce some of the certificates such as title deed of the house or flat, no dues certificate from the Corporation and Aadhaar card. According to sources, some of the people don’t have any documents or pattas and other related certificates in their names, while other eligible people don’t have white cards which is compulsory for getting tap connection for Rs 200. Due to these norms, many the eligible people are not able to get tap connections. 

“Many could not transfer their title deeds on their names from their parents or grandfathers. I requested the government to provide tap connections based only on Aadhaar and white cards by not bringing pressure on the property documents,”  said Kakinada MLA Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao (Kondababu).  He said that if the government decides to relax the norms, many people, not only in Kakinada but also across the state would benefit. KMC deputy engineer S. Prabhakara Rao said that 1,735 households have been given tap connections under AMRUT scheme in Kakinada and another 4,000 are eligible. 

He said that the persons who want to get tap connections should clear all tax arrears and submit all the necessary documents. People who don’t have white ration cards should pay Rs 6,500 per connection . meanwhile, People’s Voice convener Dusarlapudi Ramana Raju said that many of the people in Kakinada don’t have white cards. He said that the KMC should be allowed to accept income certificates issued by the revenue officials instead of White Cards.