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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | 34% of state's potable water contaminated -Viju B

34% of state's potable water contaminated -Viju B

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published Published on Jun 17, 2014   modified Modified on Jun 17, 2014
-The Times of India
 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The latest Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has come down heavily on Kerala Water Authority (KWA) for not providing safe drinking water to people of Kerala, especially when sufficient funds were allotted under various drinking water and sanitation schemes.

"Test results by the KWA had shown that 34% of total water sources tested in Kerala was contaminated with heavy presence of iron, fluoride, saline, nitrates, deadly heavy metals like arsenic, and bacteria," the CAG report said.

In the state level sanctioning committee (SLSC) meeting, the principal secretary (water resources) in 2010 had suggested to cover 1,018 water quality-affected habitations within two years in order to free such habitations from any contamination, the report noted.

"But even in March 2013, 893 habitations were yet to be covered," the report said.

The CAG audit scrutiny revealed that out of the Rs 162.77 crore available during 2008-13 for upgraded water quality, the KWA could spend only Rs 42.19 crore (that is around 26%) of the allotted funds for various drinking water schemes.

"This shows that there was inadequate effort on the part of the KWA in providing safe drinking water to rural population even when sufficient funds were available," the CAG report said.

The SLSC had sanctioned seven schemes costing Rs 38.20 crore during 2008-09 to 2011-13, but none of the schemes was taken up for implementation.

Similarly, only Rs 24.16 crore was used out of the total Rs 89.92 crore released under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP).

"No schemes were taken up for infiltration rings, recharge pits, percolation tanks, injection wells during the five-year period," the report noted.

In the test-checked districts no schemes for sustainability of sources were taken up during 2008-13.

Under the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, the state had achieved 100% target of providing household latrines, but in spite of the good performance, E-Coli and Coli form bacteria was found in most of the water sources tested for biological contamination.

"Of the 28,985 sources tested, 5,145 and 19,156 samples had E-Coli and Coli form contamination," the CAG said.

Audit analysis also shows that only 30% of the total rural population of 2.55 crore had access to potable drinking water.

The CAG has recommended that the KWA should prepare a comprehensive rolling plan for according priority to complete the schemes.

"The government should urgently formulate schemes for sustainability of water resources to ensure water security of the state. The state water supply sanitation mission should ensure greater coordination and convergence among various departments," the report said.


The Times of India, 16 June, 2014, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/34-of-states-potable-water-contaminated/articleshow/36639337.cms?fb_action_ids=10201793707955992&fb_ac


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