Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Nal Jal Yojna has come to a standstill in several villages across the state. With the advent of summer, a large number of villages are facing severe water shortage. One of the major reasons for water shortage in villages is that operation of Nal Jal Yojna has not been properly carried out. It has come to light after the submission of the functionality report of the Government of India.
On the basis of random survey, it came to light that 157 projects under Nal Jal Yojna, which handed over to the Gram Panchayats, have stopped working. Out of 157, 128 have been closed, because the Gram Panchayats barely took any interest in maintaining them.
After the Government of India’s report, PHE is trying to restart these projects. The Government of India told the PHE to find an alternative to operation and maintenance. After receiving instructions from the Centre, the PHE has also surveyed the condition of the Nal Jal Yojna.
According to sources, the survey conducted by the PHE found that 205 projects – handed over to the Panchayats – remained closed. In the survey, it also came to light that the Panchayats kept away from paying proper attention to the implementation of the Nal Jal Yojna.
Motor pumps were out of order or power bills remained unpaid
About the Nal Jal Yojna it also came to light that the drinking water could not be supplied, because the Gram Panchayats failed to foot the power bills. At some places, motor pumps went out of order, so water could not be supplied. Seventeen villagers are passing through this situation. Leakages in the pipelines, non-payment to the pump operators, and shortage of water came in the way of supplying water to villages.
Lack of resources in Gram Panchayats
The representatives of the Gram Panchayats said lack of resources came in the way of operating Nal Jal Yojna and supplying water through them. The Gram Panchayats do not have budget to get the damaged the water pipelines repaired, they said. There is a shortage of funds to pay the wages of pump operators besides the Panchayats are facing the problem of low voltage problem.
