NIZAMABAD: The officials of Rural Water Supply (RWS) are busy searching ways to get funds from the government or local bodies to maintain the existing drinking water schemes in rural areas.
According to the officials, RWS has several drinking water schemes in rural areas maintained by the department. It also looks after repairs of the schemes.
Previously, RWS used to receive funds from ZPs but in the last financial year the government sanctioned funds directly to gram panchayat to spend according to guidelines. The gram panchayats transfer 30 per cent funds to ZP which transfers the same to RWS. However, gram panchayats are not following the rules and regulations in regard to transfer of funds to RWS.
Nizamabad ZP CEO C Mohan Lal said every year the government is releasing Rs 80 crore Finance Commission funds to GPs.
The district has 20 Comprehensive Protected Water Supply Schemes (CPWSS) covering 169 villages.
A few months ago the government released Rs 20,36,74,200 as the second phase of the 14th Finance Commission funds for 2015-16 and out of that gram panchayats had to deposit 30 per cent to ZP but instead they deposited only Rs 57,57,460.
RWS has taken up works with a cost of Rs 9,73,27,000 during 2015-16 and GPs adjusted around Rs 7 crore under the 13th Finance Commission funds.
“We sent reminders to all GPs through the District Collector and pursuing the matter,” CEO said.
Meanwhile, RWS SE K Srinivas Reddy told Express that Nizamabad and Kamareddy has 20 CPWSS and out of that only seven are working.
“We have enough water from all sources but unable to run the schemes due to maintenance problems,” he said.
He said the government is already utilising the 14th Finance Commission funds directly for electricity bills and it can divert 30 per cent funds at state level to RWS on the same lines.