Transport Minister and in-charge of Ballari district B. Sriramulu has directed officials concerned to ensure that every household in the district gets tap water under the Union Government’s Jal Jeevan Mission.
Responding to Executive Engineer of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department who, at a review meeting held at the Zilla Panchayat Conference Hall in Ballari on Tuesday, said that 15,719 households in the district have been provided with water taps against the target of 20,613 in the first phase under Jal Jeevan Mission, the Minister directed the officer to complete the target before April 30.
“You have to reach the target of providing all the 15,719 households with water connections before April 30 by speeding up the works. You have to take stringent action against the contractors who fail to meet the targets within the stipulated time,” Mr. Sriramulu said.
The Minister also told the officer to initiate the process for taking up second and third phase works under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
“Households that have not been provided with water connection in the three phases of Jal Jeevan Mission should be covered in the fourth phase to ensure that all of them in the district get pure drinking water through taps. I will extend all cooperation for the implementation of the Mission in the district,” Mr. Sriramulu said.
As per information provided in the meeting, there are 1,92,628 households in the district and the administration has set a target of providing drinking water through taps to 1,24,282 households in three phases. The remaining 68,000 households will be provided with tap connection in the fourth phase.
“We have taken up 10,505 Jal Jeevan Mission works under MGNREGA and spent ₹104 crore thus far. The district has achieved 103% progress in the creation of man-days,” an officer of the Zilla Panchayat told the meeting.
Hostels
On the demand for additional hostels under the Social Welfare and Backward Classes Welfare departments, the Minister said that he is aware of the requirements and promised to do everything to meet them.
“Just provide me with a list of places that need new hostels and we will see how we can address the demand. There is a requirement of ₹50 lakh for completing the work on Babu Jagjivan Ram Bhavan and I will take steps to get the amount released at the earliest possible. A sum of ₹4 crore is released for installing seats, sound system and other equipment in the Valmiki Bhavan in Ballari. The officials concerned should ensure quality work,” Mr. Sriramulu said.
Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer J. Lingamurthy and other senior officers were present.
