Hyderabad: Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Dansari Anasuya on Wednesday said there would be no disruption in drinking water supply summer operations and directed officials to maintain uninterrupted service across Telangana.
At a high-level review meeting at the Secretariat, she assessed Mission Bhagiratha works, MGNREGS implementation and progress under the PESA Act in agency areas. She asked officials to remain alert during the next two to three months, citing peak summer demand. She also directed them to promote awareness on judicious water use.
Officials informed the meeting that reservoirs currently hold adequate water for drinking needs. Supplies continue from the Krishna and Godavari river basins. Storage levels remain stable in reservoirs such as Singur and Srisailam to meet seasonal demand.
The Minister instructed officials to submit daily reports on water supply status. In case of source depletion, she asked them to arrange alternative supply immediately. She also directed quick repair of pipeline leakages and resolution of complaints through the 1916 toll-free number. In addition, she asked departments to maintain updated data on water infrastructure for planning.
Minister reviews drinking water supply summer preparedness
As part of drinking water supply summer preparedness, officials have taken up repair of hand pumps, motors and pipelines. They are also strengthening rural water supply systems to handle increased demand.
Reviewing MGNREGS, she said network issues in remote and forest areas affect attendance through facial recognition systems. Therefore, she said the state would write to the Centre seeking relaxation of norms. She also demanded the release of pending wage payments delayed for three months.
She noted that Telangana ranks second nationally in providing employment under the scheme. Over three lakh people receive work daily, she said, and directed officials to increase workdays through close monitoring.
On PESA implementation, she said all 1,289 gram panchayats in agency areas must be covered fully. She stressed that the Act protects tribal rights and gives Gram Sabhas authority over resources such as sand and forest produce. She also directed officials to conduct training programmes and speed up appointments of coordinators and mobilisers.
The Minister said Mission Bhagiratha, MGNREGS and PESA must progress in coordination. She added that review meetings would be held every 15 days to track implementation.