It is said that some elected representatives are pressurising the District Administration to take up Contractor Oriented Works (COW), instead of emphasising on completion of half done projects and as per a reliable source from ZP, some of the MLAs are actively working for the same.
It is due to undue interference of elected representatives that the Action Plan was changed several times.
An action plan with Rs 12 crore allocated for drinking water was approved at the Zilla Panchayat this year but works of Rs 8 crore have been completed.
Zilla Panchayat has identified 677 drinking water projects under various projects but only 259 works have been completed and more than 300 projects are yet to be started.
Out of this pending 300 projects, ZP aims to complete 150 projects by March end. Even if this happens, a sum of Rs 3 crore will be left unused.
Every year, both State and Central governments release Rs 8 crore to the ZP to take up drinking water projects alone.
This year, Zilla Panchayat plans to make an Action Plan of Rs 11 crore, including Rs 3 crore pending from last year.
Apart from this, an action plan of Rs 9 crore was sent to the government for approval because of pressure from elected representatives.
It is said that this action plan may not get government approval but in case government approves it, then ZP will have around Rs 20 crore for drinking water alone, thereby bringing festive season for elected representatives who have shook hands with the contractors.
However, ZP Chief Operating Officer Ramanna has said that there is absolutely no drinking water scarcity in the district and the ZP has not yet received any application or complaint on the same.
MGREGS fails
ZP sources have agreed that machines have been used during the implementation of works under MGREGS.
“We have been told that we can use machines if it necessary but this has not come to us in writing,” said the source.