Hyderabad: Drinking water supply projects taken up by the rural water supply and sanitation (RWS&S) department and the public health and engineering department (PHED) have been moved to Telangana Drinking Water Supply Corporation (TDWSCL), which was established to implement Mission Bhagiratha.
The state government had earlier decided that the intra-village or intra-municipal works would be taken up by the respective local bodies with the technical assistance of the line departments.
The engineer-in-chief of RWS&S had suggested to the state government to add two more objectives to the existing objectives of TDWSCL and amend the GO relating to drinking water project works in rural area.
Accordingly, the state government has decided to build service reservoirs and distribution system within the habitations with funds the government borrows from financial institutions and banks.
The other decision relates to the supply of drinking water in bulk to industries and industrial areas and to fix, revise and collect tariff based on policy. The state has also amended its earlier orders to now authorise TDWSCL to take up intra-village works. Intra-municipal works will be taken up by the respective local bodies.
As for Mission Bhagiratha, the government is borrowing funds to implement the programme through TDWSCL. It is making off-budget borrowings through the water corporation so as not to violate the Fiscal Responsibly and Budget Management (FRBM) Act. Officials said the central government was extending funds for rural water supply programmes. Now, these funds will be transferred to TDWSCL to take up the works under Mission Bhagiratha.
