Govt Restores Independent Status for Sathya Sai Water Project
The three-decade-old drinking water scheme, launched in 1997 by spiritual leader Sri Sathya Sai Baba, was designed to address chronic water scarcity in the region, where groundwater resources are limited and villages frequently face acute shortages.
Anantapur: The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to operate the Sri Sathya Sai Rural Drinking Water Supply Scheme independently following concerns over its maintenance after it was recently handed over to the Anantapur Zilla Parishad.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu took the decision during the ongoing collectors’ conference, directing officials of Anantapur and Sri Sathya Sai districts to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of the project, which serves as a lifeline for lakhs of people in drought-prone Rayalaseema.
The three-decade-old drinking water scheme, launched in 1997 by spiritual leader Sri Sathya Sai Baba, was designed to address chronic water scarcity in the region, where groundwater resources are limited and villages frequently face acute shortages.
The project has since expanded significantly and currently supplies drinking water to 1,341 villages, benefiting around 16.41 lakh people across Anantapur and Sri Sathya Sai districts.
The scheme operates through 273 individual schemes, 19 other schemes and five additional components, making it one of the largest rural drinking water projects in the state.
Concerns were recently raised after the project was reportedly transferred to the Anantapur Zilla Parishad for administration, triggering protests and objections, including from Telugu Desam MLAs. Maintenance of the project had become a major issue in the region.
Officials said dues amounting to nearly Rs. 142 crore, including pending payments related to Rural Water Supply, gram panchayats and municipalities, had become a burden on local bodies. In addition, around Rs. 32 crore in maintenance grants is reportedly pending.
During the collectors’ meeting, the Chief Minister stressed that the project remained a dream initiative of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and directed officials to safeguard the scheme and continue operating it independently to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply in the region.
