Koppal/Gadag: In the backdrop of drought in the state, revenue minister Krishna Byre Gowda has issued a directive to officials, urging them to take prompt actions to secure water availability across all villages.
The minister conducted a comprehensive review meeting in both Koppal and Gadag districts on Tuesday.
During the meeting at the Zilla Panchayat hall in Koppal, Krishna Byre Gowda emphasized, "If there is any water problem in any place due to lack of rain, all arrangements should be made to supply water within 24 hours."
"Before the problem arises, a task force should be set up at the gram panchayat level comprising representatives from revenue, RDPR (Rural Development and Panchayat Raj), and rural drinking water and sanitation departments," he said.
Additionally, preparations for water supply through tankers and the identification of private borewells were also discussed.
The Minister announced that the government has already disbursed funds for drinking water, with the necessary funds available in the PD accounts of respective district Deputy Commissioners for relief efforts in the face of natural disasters.
An allocation of Rs 11 crore was released last week, and an additional Rs 50 lakh per taluk will be provided within two weeks.
Acknowledging the implementation of e-offices in most taluks of Koppal district, Minister Gowda emphasized the need for complete adoption, which would accelerate administrative processes and save time for both officers and citizens.
In a subsequent review meeting held in Gadag, Minister Krishna Byre Gowda encouraged farmers to register their lands in the FRUITS software to avail benefits like drought relief and insurance money.
He urged department officials to raise awareness among farmers regarding the software's advantages.
"In the wake of drought in the district, the authorities should take precautionary measures to ensure that there is no shortage of drinking water and fodder for the people and livestock," he said.
He suggested buying fodder where necessary and providing fodder kits to farmers in areas with available water sources.
Minister Gowda also outlined plans for the beat system aimed at protecting government land from encroachment.
"The app is currently under development to safeguard government-owned lands and will be launched in the near future. Through this app, a comprehensive database of government lands will be established. Village accountants will conduct site visits every three months to assess potential encroachments. They will verify the status on the spot using the app and submit a report online to the tahsildar in case of any encroachment," he explained.
Minister Gowda mentioned the implementation of a digitization system to permanently store records through scanning. He assured that efforts are underway to facilitate easy public access to relevant documents.
