Need Rs 45,000 crore to solve water crisis in rural Karnataka: HK Patil

BENGALURU: Observing that consumption of bottled water and treated water has led to emergence of two sections of society, rural development and panchayat raj minister H. K. Patil on Wednesday emphasised that technology helps provide pure water at affordable prices to all for drinking as well as personal hygiene.

Speaking at a one-day review meeting of ministers and secretaries in-charge of rural drinking water and sanitation in New Delhi, Mr Patil asserted: “Access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation is essential to human health and survival. But for many people living in low resource settings, these vital sources remain out of reach. When estimated, around the globe 748 million women, men, children lack access to an improved source of drinking water. So, there is an urgent need for increased access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.”

According to him, the advent of bottled water culture and practice of consuming treated water has led to emergence of two classes of society. One class, the privileged and economically well to do, get access to bottled water. The other, the vast majority of the population, especially farmers, labourers, consumes either tank/lake/pond or even other forms of contaminated water. “This has largely contributed to outbreak of water borne diseases having devastating effects in a country like ours. According to an estimate about 37.7 million Indians are affected annually by waterborne diseases like hepatitis, diarrhoea, cholera, jaundice, typhoid etc,” he added.

The minister said he was confident that providing pure drinking water to all rural habitations in Karnataka would become reality in a phased manner. “An amount of Rs 45,000 crores of budgetary support and 60 TMC feet water is required to quench the thirst of all rural habitations,” he added.

Minister said he was confident that providing pure drinking water to all rural habitations would become reality in a phased manner.