From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Feb 10: Recently inducted State Cabinet minister D K Shivakumar may be holding the crucial Energy portfolio in the Siddaramaiah ministry, but as the district in-charge minister for Ramanagaram, where the State JD(S) president and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy holds sway, Shivakumar got cracking to mitigate the drinking water needs of the people.
Shivakumar said the people of Ramanagaram have been receiving drinking water once in 5-6 days and the condition is no better in other taluks of the district, which is close to the State capital of Bangalore.
Taking a dig at Ramanagaram MLA Kumaraswamy, who was the leader of opposition in the Assembly until recently, Shivakumar said all four taluks of Ramanagram district have been facing severe drinking water crisis for the past several years.
While 75 per cent residents of the Kanakapura taluk have been receiving drinking water almost daily, Magadi and Chennapatna taluks have been receiving once in 2-3 days.
''Water crisis is severe in the district,” he said and wondered why the situation has been allowed to persist.
To tackle the drinking water crisis, the minister said a Rs 330 crore action plan has been prepared to increase the quantity of Cauvery water supply from the present 16 million litres per day (MLD) to 61 MLD.
Keeping into account the demand in 20145, the action plan was prepared for the district. The current drinking water requirement of the City was 25 MLD, he said.
Drinking water supply to Ramanagaram City would be augmented by laying separate water pipelines.
A detailed proposal would be sent to the Centre seeking matching grant to implement the project.
To mitigate the crisis temporarily, the minister said existing defunct borewells would be repaired and new mini water supply schemes would be launched.
The minister, who held a meeting with officials of the district, said another meeting would be convened with Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) officials for implementing the project.
He said 450 houses would be constructed for below poverty line families in Ramangaram City and funds would be made available under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme.
The estimated cost of each house would be Rs 3 to 4 lakh, he said.