Jalanidhi, the rural water supply and sanitation agency of the State Government, has selected the backward districts in the state to provide drinking water for the tribal settlement in the second phase.
The panchayats in Wayanad and Idukki districts were selected considering the tribal population, which is more than 16 per cent. Around 20 panchayats in these districts have more tribal population and the project would be implemented in a phased manner. Jalanidhi director (operations) S Rathish said that 50 grama panchayats had also been selected in the second phase which were included in the general category. In the second phase, the project is expected to be completed in three years.
“In the first phase 22 grama panchayats were selected and the works would be completed by November. Around 145 panchayats were selected for the second phase and it was given approval by the World Bank,” Rathish said.
In the second phase 179 grama panchayats submitted application to include them in the project, where there are no drinking water supply projects by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA).
From these applications, 145 panchayats were selected and the projects will be implemented in a phased manner.
For each project, 75 per cent of the expenditure will be given by the World Bank, 15 per cent by the grama panchayat and 10 per cent by the beneficiary.
As there is a provision for the beneficiary share to be converted into labour, the service of the tribals can be used to complete the project in these areas. Irrigation Minister P J Joseph ensured that the Jalanidhi project in all the tribal areas would be completed in 36 months.
A monthly meeting to review the progress of the works will also be conducted regularly to ensure that it is completed on time.
As the World Bank gave sanction for implementing the projects in 145 more panchayats, the vision of safe drinking water could be completed in the state before 2016, Rathish said.
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