Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil has said that the government would release Rs 38 crore to solve the drinking water problem in rural areas.
He was addressing a press conference here on Sunday.
“The water shortage problem is severe in villages. The deputy commissioners have been provided Calamity Relief Funds (CRF) but cannot take up certain kinds of work technically.
In the backdrop of such conditions, the matter was discussed with the chief minister on Friday and Rs 38 crore of the 100 crore under the State’s minimum needs programme (MNP) has been released for use by the 38 Panchayat Raj engineering divisions of the 30 districts,” Patil said.
‘Complete works’
The minister added that the district administrations could utilise the funds immediately to provide drinking water facilities and even complete related works that had come to a standstill. Belgaum, Bellary, Mysore and Tumkur have been given Rs two crore each, he said.