Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 8: The central government's ambitious 'Jal Jeevan Mission' aimed at providing water to every household, is likely to suffer setbacks in the coastal area of Karnataka in its year of inception.

The scheme is being implemented by the Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation department. The contractors are dithering from taking up the contract as they feel that it is difficult to complete the works within the cost fixed by the department because of price hike of construction materials. In both Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts, several works have been put for re-tendering. The officials in the meanwhile, are trying to woo the contractors.

 
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Under the scheme, in addition to using the multi-village drinking water or tube wells available, new sources of water can also be used. The mission envisages piped water connection to all the houses in the country by 2024. Water connection under the scheme has been provided to several Anganwadis, schools, PU colleges etc under the scheme in Udupi district.

In Dakshina Kannada district, the plan to extend the current seven multi-village drinking water projects has been taken up. The officials said that bore wells would be sunk wherever necessary. The target is to provide drinking water to 75,000 households in Dakshina Kannada and 57,414 houses in Udupi for the year 2020-21. In both the districts only a limited number of works have begun. The mission is being implemented in 46 villages in Bantwal taluk, 42 in Beltangady, 20 in Puttur, 15 in Sullia and 94 in Mangaluru taluk. An amount of Rs 174 crore has been set aside under the scheme for Dakshina Kannada district, and Rs 126.18 crore for Udupi.