The Hans India: Hyderabad: Tuesday,
November 01, 2016.
The
much-trumpeted Mission Bhagiratha seems to be unyielding contrary to the hyped
expectations. The Government of Telangana has expended only Rs 5,612.89 crore
in 26 segments out of Rs 8,791.71 crore released for this Rs 40,000-crore
flagship programme of the state government Mission Bhagiratha.
Under the
Right to Information Act, 2005, this RTI correspondent of The Hans India filed
an application with the Chief Engineer, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation
Department on August 10 this year.
The public
information officer took his own sweet time and released the information on
October 25, which is 75 days after filing the application. He is required to
furnish the sought information within 30 days under section 7 (1) of the RTI
Act.
The
information has been provided upon making the first appeal to the first
appealate authority in the office of the CE, RWS. The Chief Engineer was asked
to state clearly “What is the extent of fund allocation, release and
expenditure by State and Central governments under the scheme?”
Similarly,
information under the RTI was also sought on how many villages had benefit so
far under the scheme. Also, the CE was asked to name the quality control
authority to the scheme. Further, the CE was asked to furnish information on
whom should people complain in case of breakage of pipelines or leakages and
damage to motors.
According to
information furnished by the Chief Engineer, the government of Telangana had
not allocated a single rupee in the budgets for 2014-15 and 2015-16. However,
the State government went on record stating that it is prepared to spend at
least Rs 12,000 crore in 2016-17.
But, in
2016-17 it released Rs 1,450 crore for the project in October. According to
information received by this RTI correspondent from the PIO, out of 26 segments
11 works in eight segments have been completed by October-end.
The
contractors who executed the works are: Kaveri Infra, L&T, MEIL, KOYA, KBN
Reddy and NCC. The government incurred an expenditure of Rs 803 crore to get
the 11 works executed in the eight segments.
As a result,
5,325 habitats received drinking water supply, which is subject to field
verification. In other segments, three works are supposed to be completed by
November-end, one work by December-end.
Under the
Mission Bhagiratha Scheme, 100 LPCD (litres per capita per day) are supposed to
be supplied to people in rural areas, 135 LPCD to people in municipalities and
150 litres per capita per day to people in municipal corporations. The project
is being implemented in 26 segments of nine districts (prior to creation of new
districts).
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