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Official apathy leaves villagers thirsty
Panchayat Raj Principal Secretary KS Jawahar Reddy, who adopted Kottalapalle, wanted to solve the drinking water problem in the village on a permanent basis.
Jammalamadugu (Kadapa): The drinking water problem of Kottalapalle village does not vanish despite spending of Rs 20 lakh, reflecting the apathy of RWS officials. The small village with about 140 agricultural families has been facing drinking water crisis for the past five years.
Panchayat Raj Principal Secretary KS Jawahar Reddy, who adopted Kottalapalle, wanted to solve the drinking water problem in the village on a permanent basis.
He got Rs 20 lakh sanctioned from the World Bank funds for execution of a drinking water scheme in Kottalapalle. It was envisaged to provide tap connections to all the houses in the village as part of the water scheme. A 45-day deadline was set for its execution.
The very purpose of the scheme got defeated as the village continues to face drinking water problem even after spending Rs 20 lakh. As the scheme is still incomplete, fresh proposals were submitted to the government seeking sanction of Rs 5 lakh more.
Deploring the failure of the RWS officials to solve the drinking water problem in Kottalapalle, some villagers alleged that there was no proper field level supervision in execution of the works.
Contractor Prasad said he sunk two borewells in the village as part of the scheme and one of them failed to yield water. He contended that though he executed the work even before the deadline, his bills are still pending.
The claims of RWS officials and the contractor on the quantum of work completed are contradictory. The contractor contended that he completed the works. According to RWS AE Sudhir, only 40 per cent of the works have been completed so far. There is also no clarity on total amount sanctioned for the water scheme.
An official said Rs 1.8 lakh was sanctioned for sinking of a borewell in the village earlier under the MP Local Area Development Scheme.
Speaking to The Hans India, a villager said: “It is strange that fresh proposals are submitted seeking sanction of additional funds without verifying the fact that how much amount is spent for the water scheme. It is also not clear that under what head the funds are sanctioned.”
Highlighting the drinking water problem, Sarala Devi, headmistress of the local school, said: “The drinking water problem in the village is severe.
Our students are able to take lunch at school due to supply of water by the agency which is serving mid-day meal to them. There is no provision for drinking water in the school. The RWS officials need to take immediate measures to solve the drinking water problem in the village realising its gravity.”
The womenfolk of the village are forced to trek long distance to get potable water from a borewell in the agricultural fields. The women said: “The newly laid pipeline in the village has failed to serve the purpose.
The pipeline has developed leaks at several places. The water supplied through the tank in the village is not fit for consumption as it emanates bad smell. The lack of commitment on the part of RWS officials is evident with their failure to solve the drinking water problem in the village even after spending Rs 20 lakh.”
By:D Madhu Kumar
