Non-functional Shuddha drinking water units in DK

• Most units in a deplorable condition

Mangaluru: The interim report submitted by the Zilla Panchayat Council committee has revealed the fact that most of the 36 Shuddha drinking water units in Dakshina Kannada (DK) district were found to be non-functional during inspection. Some of the 36 units are in a deplorable state, said Janardhan Gowda, Zilla Panchayat member and head of the committee.

“Some units continue to face technical problems and the local gram panchayat officers have no information about the units. There is no proper road access to such units. Also, the committee members found the units unhygienic. There is lack of coordination among the officers of the Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL) and the gram panchayats,” he pointed.

Mr Gowda explained that the tenders for the works taken up by the Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department were entrusted to Pan Asia which was also asked to maintain the units for five years. As the contractor failed to maintain the units, the contract was suspended. The officials are now preparing the estimate for the pending works, he informed.

“With the help of reverse osmosis machines, pure drinking water should have been given to people. Unfortunately, it has not been implemented ineffectively in the district,” he lamented.

He recommended that the responsibility of maintenance of the units be given to a private firm or a government department.

MLC Ivan D’Souza appreciated he efforts of the Council committee, promised to forward the interim report to the minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development. “If there is any dishonest intention on the part of the KRIDL and the gram panchayats, action will be taken against them,” he said.

An officer of KRIDL clarified that of the 102 drinking water units, 57 had been commissioned and work on the other 45 units was in progress. “Technical faults reported in the 57 units have been rectified,” he insisted.

However, panchayat members, cutting across party lines argued that all the drinking water units were defunct.

On the persistent demand by the members, to share experiences of installing the drinking water units in Bidar, Chief Executive Officer Selvamani, said that the units maintained by the respective gram panchayats were serving their purpose.

“Each gram panchayat can take up the work on its Shuddha drinking water unit by utilising funds from MGNREGS and the 14th Finance Commission,” said the CEO.