Andhra Pradesh: Govt Urged To Ensure Uninterrupted RWS Maintenance
Gopalakrishna said the 15th Finance Commission award period ended in March 2026 and that tied grants were intended, among other purposes, for drinking water supply, rainwater harvesting and water recycling.
Kakinada: Bharatiya Agro Economic Research Centre state convener Tikkireddy Gopalakrishna has urged the government to ensure uninterrupted maintenance of Rural Water Supply (RWS) schemes across Andhra Pradesh.
He said several RWS schemes were facing operational difficulties following the expiry of existing Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contracts on March 31 and the subsequent discontinuation of contractual arrangements.
Gopalakrishna said thousands of villages depended on RWS infrastructure, including pumping stations, pipelines, overhead service reservoirs, valves and electrical equipment, which required regular preventive and breakdown maintenance by trained personnel.
He said the delay in finalising new O&M arrangements could affect repairs to damaged pipelines, maintenance of valves and pumping equipment, rectification of motor and electrical failures and timely restoration of water supply during breakdowns. It could also lead to a shortage of trained fitters and field-level maintenance staff, he said.
Gopalakrishna said the 15th Finance Commission award period ended in March 2026 and that tied grants were intended, among other purposes, for drinking water supply, rainwater harvesting and water recycling.
He urged the government to conduct a district-wise review of funds received and utilised under the XV Finance Commission, balances, liabilities and expenditure on drinking water-related works.
He also sought immediate state-wide instructions to ensure continuous O&M of RWS schemes and temporary arrangements, wherever technically and legally permissible, to prevent disruption of essential maintenance during the tendering process.
He called for district-level, round-the-clock breakdown response mechanisms for major RWS schemes, particularly during summer, cyclones and floods, and sought provision for continuous O&M under the 16th Finance Commission framework and the state budget.
