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Friday, March 29 2024
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DCs are directed to give top priority for drinking water: Min Eshwar Khandre

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Bengaluru: The state government has directed the Deputy Commissioners to give top priority for supply of drinking water in rural areas due to the drought conditions in the state, according to Minister for Municipalities, Local Bodies and Public Enterprises Eshwar B Khandre.

Govt to revive sick PSUs in Karnataka: Minister Eshwar B Khandre-1Speaking with media persons here on Wednesday, Minister Eshwar B Khandre said the state government has exempted the expenditure to provide drinking water and fodder for cattle in rural areas from Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act. “The officials of local bodies and Deputy Commissioners can take decisions to spend funds to procure fodder for cattle and supply drinking water in rural areas that are reeling under severe drought in the state. They need not float tenders inviting bidders while allocating work to the contractors to supply drinking water and procure fodder to cattle,’’ the minister said.

Rs 250 crore for drinking water

Minister Eshwar B Khandre said the Deputy Commissioners of the respective districts have been advised to utilize the State Finance Commission (SFC) grant  of Rs 200 crore to Rs 250 crore for providing drinking water and to take up emergency works. “The ban on digging borewells will not apply to drought-hit areas in the state. We have advised the Deputy Commissioners to utilize the existing borewells instead of digging up tubewells to mitigate drinking water woes in the drought-hit areas in the state,’’ Minister Eshwar B Khandre said.

The minister said the Deputy Commissioners have been directed to prepare contingency plan for drought-hit areas. “We may need Rs 200 crore to Rs 300 crore more to take up emergency works between January to June in drought-hit areas,’’ the minister said.

Administrative approval powers

The Commissioners and Chief Officers of local bodies are conferred with administrative approval powers to take up developmental works. As per the new guidelines of Municipal Administration Department, the officer of town council can allocate Rs 15 lakh for the developmental works as against Rs 5 lakh. The officer of Town Municipal Council is allowed to approve Rs 30 lakh worth developmental  works as against Rs 15 lakh. Grade I City Municipal Council can approve Rs 1 crore  worth works as against Rs 30 lakh, Grade II CMC can approve Rs 50 lakh worth works as against Rs 20 lakh and city corporations can approve Rs 2 crore worth works as against Rs 1 crore. Previously the Commissioners and Chief Officers  had no powers to give administrative sanctions.

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