Pawan Kalyan pushes rural drinking water reforms, 340 filter beds restored

Metro India News | AMARAVATI 

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Panchayat Raj, Rural Development and Rural Water Supply Pawan Kalyan has launched an extensive program to strengthen rural drinking water systems and ensure safe and quality drinking water for every household.

As part of the initiative, the government has allocated Rs.35 crore for the restoration of drinking water infrastructure across the State. Around 340 damaged filter beds covering nearly 370 villages have been restored, benefiting approximately 25 lakh people with improved drinking water supply.

The government is also implementing several major drinking water projects. Works worth nearly Rs.26,000 crore are being taken forward under the Jal Jeevan Mission–Amarajeevi Jaldhara program. Mega water grid projects worth Rs.7,910 crore in Chittoor, Prakasam, Palnadu and the Godavari districts are expected to meet the drinking water requirements of 1.21 crore people over the next 30 years.

Another 10 multi-village water supply schemes have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs.9,355 crore, while 3,000 villages facing severe water shortages have been identified for single-village water supply schemes involving Rs.1,814 crore. The government is also completing drinking water projects in Pulivendula, Dhone and Uddanam that were left incomplete by the previous government. The State Cabinet has additionally approved Rs.4,054 crore for the rationalization and expansion of 7,439 rural drinking water works.

Responding to reports of poor-quality drinking water in rural areas of the Gudivada Assembly constituency, Pawan Kalyan ordered a field-level survey. The survey identified 40 damaged filter beds serving 44 villages, which were restored at a cost of Rs.3.80 crore. He also personally inspected water treatment works at Valivarthipadu and Mallayapalem. During his visit to Gorl in Vizianagaram district following an outbreak of diarrhea, he identified deficiencies in drinking water supply and directed officials to undertake immediate repairs.

The Deputy Chief Minister has directed the Rural Water Supply Department to work towards the Jal Jeevan Mission objective of providing 55 litres of safe drinking water per household per day and reiterated that ensuring quality drinking water to every rural household remains a priority of the coalition government.