In a decisive move to tackle water scarcity and safety concerns, Mandya Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer KR Nandini has issued strict directives to district officials, making the uninterrupted supply of clean and safe drinking water to rural households the topmost priority.
Grassroots Monitoring and Immediate Action Plan
Chairing a meeting of the district water and sanitation committee on Wednesday, CEO Nandini instructed taluk panchayat executive officers and engineers from the rural drinking water and sanitation department to intensify their monitoring and coordination efforts at the grassroots level. She emphasized the need for a hands-on approach to identify and resolve issues promptly.
The CEO directed officials to immediately convene hobli-level meetings. These meetings must involve gram panchayat watermen and panchayat development officers (PDOs) to pinpoint local drinking water problems. Officials have been tasked with preparing a comprehensive report listing all existing issues, along with details of remedial measures already taken. This report is to be submitted at the next committee meeting for review.
Focus on Long-Term Solutions and Safety
Looking beyond immediate fixes, Nandini stressed the importance of sustainable solutions. She instructed authorities to expedite the completion of all ongoing Multi-Village Scheme (MVS) projects, which are crucial for strengthening the district's potable water distribution network.
On the critical issue of water quality, the CEO mandated joint inspection teams. These teams, comprising taluk panchayat EOs, assistant executive engineers, and taluk health officers, must conduct rigorous chemical and microbiological testing of every drinking water source within gram panchayat limits.
Highlighting infrastructure safety, Nandini pointed to Krishnarajapet taluk as a model, as it has successfully completed protection works for all its borewells to prevent contamination. She directed other taluks to replicate this initiative. In recognition of this achievement, Rashmi R, assistant executive engineer of the rural drinking water and sanitation sub-division in Krishnarajapet, was presented with a certificate of appreciation.
Maintenance Handover and SHG Initiative Launch
Addressing the maintenance of water purification plants, Nandini clarified the protocol. Plants with expired operation and maintenance contracts should be repaired once and then formally handed over to the respective Gram Panchayats (GPs) as per government norms. Subsequently, the GPs will be fully responsible for their upkeep. Plants not yet handed over must continue to be maintained by the concerned agencies.
Beyond water, the CEO also launched the promotional campaign for 'Akkanabutthi', a cloud kitchen initiative run by the Bevinahalli Sanjeevini Federation. She praised it as a pioneering state-level effort where self-help groups (SHGs) directly supply hygienic and nutritious meals to offices and institutions. Nandini urged taluk panchayat EOs to explore integrating such SHG-based catering services into government offices to support local entrepreneurship.
