RWS to supply drinking water to 82 habitations in Kakinada district

Kakinada: The Rural Water Supply Department has prepared an action plan to meet the drinking water needs of Kakinada district. The district has identified 82 habitations requiring supply of drinking water. An action plan has been prepared by officials, citing a cost of ₹55.06 lakh plus a transportation charge of ₹39.72 lakh, covering 15 habitations.

The Grama Panchayats should meet the expense from the funds they have from the 15th finance commission. Flushing of borewells for 72 HPs across 48 habitations have been decided on at an estimated cost of ₹6.84 lakh. The money would be drawn from Mandal Praja Parishads and Grama Panchayats under 15th finance commission provisions or from the general funds, officials said.

Some ₹850 lakh is required for filling four summer storage tanks, they have estimated.

The officials said there are 15 summer storage tanks under the CPWS schemes and seven under PWS schemes in Kakinada district. Of these, 13 CPWS summer storage tanks and four PWS were filled and the remaining would be filled within three days.

“During the peak summer, there is unauthorized drawl of water from the pipelines by the public, using motors, in certain areas. As a result, the tail-end people are suffering from shortage of water and hence the Panchayats are arranging tankers to those areas.” Officials said.

Superintendent engineer Srinivasa Rao said a monitoring cell has been opened in his office and the people may submit their grievances to the cell. Mandal level committees would convene a review meeting every week to assess the water situation and make fresh arrangements as per the needs. “At present, the situation is not alarming as regards water supply. All the schemes are working and transportation of drinking water is not required.”

According to RWS officials, there are 21 central protective water schemes and 710 PWS/MPWS schemes as also 3415 HPs in the district providing drinking water to 667 habitations.