Karwar: MP Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri on Monday directed officials to identify villages in Uttara Kannada district that face recurring drinking water shortages and take steps to provide a permanent solution under the second phase of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).

Chairing a review meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on the progress of works sanctioned under the Jal Jeevan Mission, Kageri said several villages in the district experience acute drinking water scarcity during the summer season. He noted that gram panchayats and taluk panchayats are currently supplying drinking water through private borewells, tube wells and water tankers.

Expressing concern over delays in the implementation of JJM works, he said complaints were being received regarding slow progress and stressed that officials must ensure there is no compromise in the quality of execution. He also warned that contractors who unnecessarily delay the commencement of works should be issued notices and blacklisted if required.

Kageri instructed officials to provide drinking water connections on a priority basis wherever necessary and emphasised the need for effective implementation of JJM, multi-village drinking water schemes and the Amrut project to resolve the district’s drinking water problems in a sustained manner.

According to officials, a total of 965 works have been taken up under the Jal Jeevan Mission in the district. Of these, 256 works under the first phase, 228 under the second phase, 26 under the third phase and 232 works under the fourth phase have been completed. Approval has also been granted to continue JJM Phase-2 works in 250 villages that were left out during the first phase.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Dr Dilish Shashi informed the meeting that drinking water is currently being supplied through private borewells in Haliyal and Mundgod taluks, while tanker water supply is being provided at 68 locations across 31 gram panchayats and in 16 wards of Manki.

Deputy Commissioner K Lakshmi Priya, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sajid Mulla and district-level officers from various departments were present at the meeting.