Tackle El Nino impact on drinking water supply effectively, Pawan Kalyan tells officials
Andhra Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Panchayat Raj & Rural Development, and Rural Water Supply K. Pawan Kalyan has instructed the officials to
Andhra Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Panchayat Raj & Rural Development, and Rural Water Supply K. Pawan Kalyan has instructed the officials to take steps for effectively tackling the drinking water scarcity and drought-like conditions caused by El Nino across the State. Chairing a review meeting on the Jal Jeevan Mission, Mr. Pawan Kalyan also directed the officials to complete the mega water grid projects in Prakasam and Palnadu districts costing ₹2,500 crore as per schedule to supply drinking water to every household in the districts.
He insisted that the water grid works undertaken in both the districts under the JJM and Amarajeevi Jaladharaschemes should progress as per the specified timelines. The officials told the Deputy Chief Minister that about 40% of the intake well construction works pertaining to the Prakasam mega water grid scheme, which had been launched at an estimated cost of ₹1,290 crore to provide drinking water to 593 habitations across seven constituencies, was completed. Construction of the 119 million-litre water treatment plant, sumps and ground-level balanced reservoirs was in progress.
As of date, 53-km of pipeline construction had been completed, the officials said. On the other hand, 152-km of pipeline had already been laid for the Palnadu water grid taken up at a cost of ₹1,200 crore for providing drinking water to 235 habitations, they informed. The construction of intake wells, reservoirs and overhead tanks were in various stages, they added. Pawan Kalyan said these projects were going to be the lifeline for the people of Palnadu and Prakasam regions, who had been enduring drinking water problem for decades.
He directed that the construction works must be completed at the earliest, without compromising on their quality. Upon completion, the mega water grid projects would provide water facility to more than 1.60 million people in 10 constituencies, he said, adding he would personally inspect the works after fully recovering from the surgery he recently underwent for shoulder injury.
The BriefWire