Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Apr 15: A huge drinking water storage tank had been built about seven years back at Chingani Gudde in Panja village for supplying water to Panja village in the taluk. However, since then, not a drop of water has flowed out from this tank.

This is a good example of a government scheme for which funds have been spent but the project has been of no use to the people. The plan to supply drinking water to different parts of Panja village through this tank has remained on paper.

When Asha Thimmappa was the zilla panchayat member of the Bellare constituency seven years back, she dreamt of providing drinking water to the villagers of Panja. She got a huge tank built atop Chingani Gudde, which is the highest point in the village. A plan to dig a jack well in River Kumaradhara was also a part of the plan. Pipeline for a distance of 4.2 km from Pulikukku to Chingani Gudde has been laid and a 10 HP pump has also been provided. But they failed to supply any water to the villagers.

Not only this, but even the tank near the junior college next to it is not getting water properly. Panja panchayat got the pipe repaired, used air valve, returning valve, a 20 HP pump fixed and succeeded in bringing water to the junior college tank but it has failed to see that water flows into the Chingani Gudde tank.

The efforts, money spent on tank construction and pipeline and other expenses have gone waste as a result. many parts of Dakshina Kannada district are facing drinking water problem and the district administration has failed to augment water even though water is available. The locals are unhappy at the inability of the concerned in getting water pumped into the tank that has become old without being used.