Mangaluru
Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U T Khader has directed officials to provide immediate electricity connections to drinking water projects without delay, emphasizing that delays are affecting supply in several drought-prone regions of Karnataka. He made the remarks while addressing a review meeting in Mangaluru.
Khader said many areas continue to face drinking water shortages even after the construction of tanks and borewells, mainly due to pending electricity connections. He instructed that power supply for such essential projects should not be delayed even if deposit payments from local bodies are pending. He added that these costs can later be adjusted against government grants released to gram panchayats.
He stressed that drinking water infrastructure must be planned based on local needs and long-term requirements, suggesting that new projects should be designed to meet demand for the next 30 years. He also assured that special grants would be considered wherever necessary to strengthen water supply systems.
The Speaker noted that sufficient funds are already being allocated for drinking water management. In areas where pipeline supply is not feasible, authorities were instructed to ensure water supply through tankers. He also said additional financial assistance would be provided through the task force along with gram panchayat resources.
Reviewing monsoon preparedness, Khader directed officials to identify flood-prone and waterlogging areas in advance. He instructed departments to desilt drains and take preventive measures in regions that experienced flooding or natural disasters in previous years. He further ordered that local officials must immediately visit affected sites in case of any emergency during the monsoon season to ensure quick response and relief measures.