Ensure Safe Drinking Water as New Year Gift-CM KCR : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Ensure Safe Drinking Water 

as New Year Gift-CM KCR

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has set 2017 December-end as the deadline for completion of works on Mission Bhagiratha Program of supplying safe drinking water to all households in the state and that the treated water should be given as a New Year Gift on January 1, 2018 to the people of Telangana. In six months from then said CM that water tanks should be constructed in all villages as well as pipelines erected and taps fitted in every house in a high-level review meeting to ensure the progress of the program and speed-up the works.

During review, the Chief Minister has reminded that Mission Bhagiratha works are going on in tune with the challenge made that if all the habitations in the State do not get pure drinking water in the State, the TRS will not contest the next general elections. The Chief Minister said such a challenge is never made in the country and hence the works should be done in accordance with the task and people should get the protected drinking water thereby enhancing the prestige of the government. The CM wanted supply of drinking water to the villages should be completed by this December and before that all the intake wells and water treatment plans should be completed to supply water to the people.  Works on pumps should begin by September and by December cent percent works should be completed. He said since Mission Bhagiratha is a life and death question for the Telangana government, officials, public representatives and working agencies should work day and night to accomplish the task.  He said the government is ready to solve any problem however small it is and he wanted such issues to be brought to the notice of the government to resolve the same.

The CM said that for the first time in the country, this scheme is implemented at a cost of Rs 43,000 Crore. Since this is the biggest challenge, he said he would personally visit the field sites if necessary to ensure the completion. The CM also advised MPs, MLAs, MLCs and other public representatives to supervise the works in their segments and visit the work sites.

The Chief Minister has discussed at length, on works going on intake wells, water treatment plants, power supply, working agencies approach methods, laying of pipelines, water levels in the reservoirs, internal works and other such matters. The officials informed that out of 19 intake wells 16 were over and the rest would be completed soon. Out of 50 water treatment plants, 15 were over, 27 were about to be completed and the work on rest of 8 were progressing. Of the 49,238 Kilometers length pipelines, 43,427 Kilometers is ready (88 per cent). Of 421 Sumps, 247 were over, of 143 GLBR 73 were over, of 562 OHBR 192 were completed, of 248 Pump Houses 51 were over and the rest would be completed in a few days, the officials said.

The officials also informed that the construction of sub stations, power lines and transformer lines for which works under taken by the electricity department are being done as per the schedule. They said except the internal works in the villages, all the works would be completed by December end. CM wanted water to be pumped from the intake wells through WTP. There may be initial hiccups, they should be overcome and solve all the issues that crop up during the execution of the work opined CM.

            “The Telangana government has taken up three most prestigious programs. The first being power supply, second, water for irrigation and the third is safe drinking water supply to the people. We have successfully overcome the power crisis and are supplying uninterrupted power supply. For 45 percent pump sets, we are giving 24-hour power supply. Very soon, we will be giving 24-hour power supply to 100 per cent pump sets. We have achieved a great success in the power sector. We are constructing projects for the irrigation water. Besides, allocating Rs 25,000 Crore every year in the budget, we have raised funds from the other financial institutions. In total, we are spending Rs 58,000 Crore on irrigation per year. Godavari waters will come into utilization through Kaleshwaram project by next year. Despite the adversaries and opponents trying to put obstacles, the government is going ahead with its programs. Projects are being constructed at break neck speed.  The third program is Mission Bhagiratha and the works under the program are going as per schedule. Officers, engineers and working agencies are having a good coordination. This is a great engineering feat! So far delegations from 11 States came and visited the project sites. The Centre has appreciated it and the NITI Aayog greeted it. The financial institutions are aghast with Mission Bhagiratha. It is a moment of pride for all of us that we are part of a program which is for the utility for the people. Solve any problem immediately. Make the best use of the opportunity,” the CM advised.

“The working agencies should work with coordination. They should form into a federation and cooperate with one another. If there is any delay in the work or facing with any other problem, other agencies should step in and extend help. Mission Bhagiratha is not only a prestigious program for the government but also to the working agencies. It is a proud movement for working agencies that they are doing such a great work and they will also get the experience. 1.5 per cent incentive is given to those completing the work on time. Every agency should complete work on time and get the incentive, this is my desire. Local MLAs and ministers are ready to help overcome any problem locally. Despite so much cooperation from the government, if there is any delay, I will not spare them. The government will not hesitate to remove those agencies which are delaying the works,” the CM said.

“By the time intake wells and water treatment plants are ready, power should be supplied to them and accordingly, sub stations should be completed. Allocation of power also to be done and uninterrupted power supply should be ensured. Appoint three officers, each from TS Transco, SPDCL and NPDCL for monitoring Mission Bhagiratha works,” the CM suggested.

“Drinking water will be given priority while utilizing the water from the reservoirs and this is the reason why we have earmarked 10 per cent of the water in the projects to drinking water purposes and brought in an Act. We will allocate 10 per cent of water in all the barrages and reservoirs in the State to Mission Bhagiratha. For this, the Minimum Draw Down Levels (MDDL) should be maintained. Prepare estimates on this in consultation with the irrigation department and decide what MDDL level should maintain in which reservoir and barrage. For this the project operation manual need to be changed. Of the 19 water resources points, only at Dummugudem water is available 365 days.  Hence to maintain MDDL levels in other 18 places would be crucial,” the CM said.

“We have prepared Mission Bhagiratha program, keeping in view the needs for the next 30 years. Accordingly, water should be supplied to people in the villages as per their needs. If need be, increase the number of Tanks and capacity of the pipelines. For this, ministers and MLAs should have meeting with the officials and take decisions,” the CM said.

Responding to the anxiety expressed by representatives of the working agencies over the GST burden that they should pay 18 per cent GST while purchasing material and implements leading to escalation in construction expenditure, the CM said the Government has already demanded the Centre not to levy the GST on people’s utility programs. The CM assured that in the GST Council meeting to be held in Hyderabad he would raise this issue on behalf of the state government. He hoped that the center would also respond positively. If the Centre does not act, then a suitable method would be created so that the working agencies are not at loss assured the CM.