Bantwal: District in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai said on Tuesday that water crisis is a serious problem and the officials should not take it lightly.
“Do not be lazy in providing drinking water to people. The officials should not give reasons that there is lack of finance for the water related work. Stern action will be taken against the erring officials,” he said.
Presiding over Bantwal taluk level meeting convened to discuss water problem, he said, “Due to less rainfall last year, the groundwater level has decreased. But we have to find an alternative solution to tackle water scarcity. I do not want the officials to give reasons like there is no water or borewells have dried up. Instead respond to the public’s demand.” he said.
He also directed the MESCOM officials to provide electricity to supply water and also asked other officials to respond efficiently to public representatives’ phone calls.
DK District Commissioner A B Ibrahim said, “For the first time Dakshina Kannada is facing water crisis. At this hour of need, officials must co-operate and work efficiently so that no complaint is received. If you receive complaints, take immediate action”, he said.
Apara district officer Kumar urged the officials to provide tanker water to the residential areas and maintain transparency.
District panchayath CEO Shrividya called upon all the village panchayath development officials to put maximum effort in providing water. Similarly, water must not be spent on construction and agricultural purposes in this time of crisis, she said.
The meeting saw engineers from every gram panchayath explain about water problems. Rai directed the officials to dig borewells where there is necessity. He also asked them to provide tanker water if there is no water in the borewells.
A borewell contractor during the meeting complained that he has dug over 240 borewells in Mangaluru and Bantwal but he did not receive bills for the same.
District panchayath president, Meenakshi Panaje; Muncipality president, Ramakrishna Alva; District panchayath vice-secretary, N R Umesh and Assistant Commissioner Dr Ashok were present on the dais.
District panchayath members Raveendra Kambali, Chandraprakash Shetty, Manjula Mave, Mamatha Gatti, Kamalakshi Poojary, Jayashree Kodandoor and M S Mohammed participated in the discussion.
Taluk panchayat executive officer, Cyprian Miranda welcomed the gathering and Tahshildar Purandara Hegde rendered the vote of thanks.
