ONGOLE: Prakasam zilla parishad had a special meeting, on Thursday, to discuss the increasing drinking water scarcity in the district.
Participating in the meeting, Transport minister Sidda Raghava Rao said government was making every effort to ensure drinking water need of the district was taken care off. He said in view of drinking water problem predicted for the ensuing summer, the issue had been taken to the notice of chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and release of water from Nagarjunasagar to the district was sought.
He said he had also discussed the issue with irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao. Meanwhile, drinking water is being supplied to people in 93 habitations with the help of 914 water tankers.
RWS department officials were asked to fill the notified and non-notified tanks with water from Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal, when it is released. “We are expecting a decision on release of water from Nagarjuna Sagar in another two days’ time,” he said.
ZP chairman E Haribabu said zilla parishad will be releasing funds for addressing the drinking water needs in the district. He stressed the need for filling up the tanks under Gundlakamma with water from the project.It was resolved to sanction Rs 29.90 crore for comprehensive drinking water problem in the district for 2016-17. The issue of the infrastructure facilities in the government schools was also discussed at length and it was resolved to sanction Rs 9.15 crore for 184 ZP schools in the district (Rs 5 lakh for each school). It was also resolved to sanction Rs 5.49 crore including ICDS funds for the construction of restrooms for girl students and female teachers in 184 ZP schools. District collector Sujatha Sharma and other officials were also present.