Depleting groundwater level has impacted the drinking water supply in rural areas of Shivamogga district in Karnataka. Following complaints of non-availability of water, Shivamogga zilla panchayat has been forced to drill new borewells and supply water through tankers.
In the current financial year, the ZP drilled 92 fresh borewells, of which only 63 yielded water. Besides that, the ZP has been supplying water through tankers to 109 villages.
The ZP received a list — from gram panchayats and taluk panchayats — of villages facing acute problem of drinking water. Local bodies had been instructed to utilise the funds available under the 14th and 15th Finance Commission grants. Taluk-level task forces have been formed under the leadership of taluk panchayat executive officers, tahsildars and assistant engineers of rural water supply and sanitation wings of the ZP. The task forces can take up emergency works necessary to ensure drinking water.
