Kailasahar, January 30 (TIWN): Poor working condition to set up water supply lines below rated capacities was witnessed at Kumarghat. Sources informed that, 5 work orders had been issued for setting up of water supply lines by DWS Division Unit. Accordingly tenders were called for and Manoj Kumar Basak of Kanchanbari and Bhulan Deb of Kumarghat were vested the responsibility with the ration 0f 3:3. The estimated cost for 1st work is scheduled to be 5lakhs79thousand670. But the contractor told that for the completion of work only 1lakh 98 thousand 823 which is 65.7 below the estimated cost. Similarly in another work estimated is 5, 96, 080, 00.But the demand is 1, 90, 150.00 which is 68.1% below and some are the rest.

This clearly shows that the contractors tried to set up below water supply lines which results in serious troubles for the residents of the Kumarghat. Besides, poor maintenance of pipelines supplying water in the city is largely to be blamed for the acute water crisis. If this situation continues, then the Central government’s mission to set up water supply lines at rural areas by 2015.limited to insufficient amount of water.

The aim and objective of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) is to provide every rural person with adequate safe water for drinking, cooking and other basic domestic needs on a sustainable basis, with a minimum water quality standard, which should be conveniently accessible at all times and in all situations.

Achieving this aim and objective is a continuous process. In the 12th Five Year Plan period, under the NRDWP, the Ministry is giving special emphasis on piped water supply in rural habitations... In addition, to accelerate the setting up piped water supply systems in rural areas in States where such coverage is low, the Ministry has proposed a project with World Bank support in parts of Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh which focuses on setting up piped water supply systems.

At the beginning of Bharat Nirman Phase I, as on 1.4.2005, it was targeted to cover 55,067 uncovered, 3,31,604 slipped back and 2,16,968 quality affected habitations with adequate safe drinking water supply. Against this, as reported by the States on the online Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, as on 15.8.2013, 55,193 uncovered, 8,33,304 partially covered/slipped back and 1,52,371 quality affected habitations have been covered.

In order to achieve the targets under NRDWP, the State Governments are vested with powers to plan, approve and implement drinking water supply schemes. The State Governments, in consultation with the Central Ministry, prepare Annual Action Plans (AAP) each year, to implement rural water supply schemes to cover partially covered and quality affected habitations and for other activities. To ensure sustainability of functioning of rural water supply schemes, the States have to adopt improved Operation & Maintenance (O&M) methods for their better working and to control leakages. Up to 15% of funds allocated to States under NRDWP can be utilized for O&M. To ensure the sustainability of drinking water sources, the State can utilize 10% of their allocation.