50% households not drinking Mission Bhagiratha water: Seethakka
Adilabad: Minister for panchayati raj and rural development, women and child welfare, Danasari Seethakka, said nearly 50 per cent of households with water connections under Mission Bhagiratha are not using its water for drinking purposes. She cited a survey conducted from July to September 2024 in the state, which revealed this big gap in usage. She noted that the state government is making efforts to address the current situation regarding Mission Bhagiratha after the Sankranti festival. In an exclusive interview with Deccan Chronicle, Seethakka discussed various issues, including infrastructure development — such as roads and bridges to improve rural connectivity — water facilities in villages, and the “Indiramma Mahila Shakti” scheme. What is the present status of Mission Bhagiratha in the state? The previous BRS government generated false hype around Mission Bhagiratha, on which they spent thousands of crores. However, the ground reality is different. They did this merely for praise and misled “Jal Shakti” by claiming they had provided water to 100 per cent of households through the scheme. Consequently, they obtained central funds under the Jal Shakti initiative. When a team from the Congress government met Jal Shakti officials — a Central government body — seeking funds for the state’s water projects, we realised the misinformation spread by the BRS government. A recent survey (July–September 2024) has shown that around 50 per cent of households with Mission Bhagiratha connections do not use this water for drinking; they use it only for other daily needs. Moreover, the scheme has not reached four lakh existing households. Three lakh of these households do not get water with sufficient pressure due to issues like damaged pipelines, hilly terrain, and lack of maintenance. There are also questions about why and when the Congress government allegedly stopped supplying Mission Bhagiratha water to households — particularly the poorest — based on claims by the BRS. What steps are you taking to improve this situation as far as Mission Bhagiratha is concerned? We will launch special programmes after the Sankranti festival in both rural and urban areas to raise awareness of the benefits of drinking purified water — rich in minerals — supplied under Mission Bhagiratha, as opposed to water purified in private RO plants. Local officials will encourage people to rely on naturally treated water from this scheme. We also plan to ensure a consistent water supply under Mission Bhagiratha to government hostels and schools, preventing staff from purchasing outside water for cooking and drinking. This will help avoid any potential risks associated with lower-quality water. Did you address the water problems in villages? Last year, we spent Rs 60 crore to improve drinking water facilities, repair Mission Bhagiratha pipelines, dig new borewells, and flush old ones in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district. Even so, some people still depend on borewells for drinking water in certain villages. Is there any special focus on improving road connectivity to interior villages? Yes, the state government is prioritising the creation of basic infrastructure — roads, bridges, and culverts — to enhance connectivity. It has allocated Rs 200 crore for Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri (including Gajwel), Rs 100 crore for Komaram Bheem Asifabad, and Rs 150 crores for Nizamabad to lay new roads. The government spent Rs 3,000 crore on roads last year and plans to invest Rs 12,000 crore in the next four years to connect villages and Gram Panchayats to mandal headquarters under the Ministry of Rural Development. What about your flagship ‘Indiramma Mahila Shakti’ scheme and its implementation? I am pleased that lakhs of women in Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have benefited from this scheme. The government provided Rs 20,000 crore in interest-free loans to SHGs, meeting its target in the first year itself, which marks a major success. It is especially encouraging to see women, including those from marginalised communities, emerging as entrepreneurs. They have started 18 types of businesses under this scheme, running them successfully and creating wealth for their self-reliance. The ministry of rural development remains focused on developing infrastructure, basic amenities, and improving conditions in rural areas.
Adilabad: Minister for panchayati raj and rural development, women and child welfare, Danasari Seethakka, said nearly 50 per cent of households with water connections under Mission Bhagiratha are not using its water for drinking purposes. She cited a survey conducted from July to September 2024 in the state, which revealed this big gap in usage.
She noted that the state government is making efforts to address the current situation regarding Mission Bhagiratha after the Sankranti festival. In an exclusive interview with Deccan Chronicle, Seethakka discussed various issues, including infrastructure development — such as roads and bridges to improve rural connectivity — water facilities in villages, and the “Indiramma Mahila Shakti” scheme.
What is the present status of Mission Bhagiratha in the state?
The previous BRS government generated false hype around Mission Bhagiratha, on which they spent thousands of crores. However, the ground reality is different. They did this merely for praise and misled “Jal Shakti” by claiming they had provided water to 100 per cent of households through the scheme. Consequently, they obtained central funds under the Jal Shakti initiative.
When a team from the Congress government met Jal Shakti officials — a Central government body — seeking funds for the state’s water projects, we realised the misinformation spread by the BRS government. A recent survey (July–September 2024) has shown that around 50 per cent of households with Mission Bhagiratha connections do not use this water for drinking; they use it only for other daily needs. Moreover, the scheme has not reached four lakh existing households. Three lakh of these households do not get water with sufficient pressure due to issues like damaged pipelines, hilly terrain, and lack of maintenance.
There are also questions about why and when the Congress government allegedly stopped supplying Mission Bhagiratha water to households — particularly the poorest — based on claims by the BRS.
What steps are you taking to improve this situation as far as Mission Bhagiratha is concerned?
We will launch special programmes after the Sankranti festival in both rural and urban areas to raise awareness of the benefits of drinking purified water — rich in minerals — supplied under Mission Bhagiratha, as opposed to water purified in private RO plants. Local officials will encourage people to rely on naturally treated water from this scheme.
We also plan to ensure a consistent water supply under Mission Bhagiratha to government hostels and schools, preventing staff from purchasing outside water for cooking and drinking. This will help avoid any potential risks associated with lower-quality water.
Did you address the water problems in villages?
Last year, we spent Rs 60 crore to improve drinking water facilities, repair Mission Bhagiratha pipelines, dig new borewells, and flush old ones in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district. Even so, some people still depend on borewells for drinking water in certain villages.
Is there any special focus on improving road connectivity to interior villages?
Yes, the state government is prioritising the creation of basic infrastructure — roads, bridges, and culverts — to enhance connectivity. It has allocated Rs 200 crore for Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri (including Gajwel), Rs 100 crore for Komaram Bheem Asifabad, and Rs 150 crores for Nizamabad to lay new roads. The government spent Rs 3,000 crore on roads last year and plans to invest Rs 12,000 crore in the next four years to connect villages and Gram Panchayats to mandal headquarters under the Ministry of Rural Development.
What about your flagship ‘Indiramma Mahila Shakti’ scheme and its implementation?
I am pleased that lakhs of women in Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have benefited from this scheme. The government provided Rs 20,000 crore in interest-free loans to SHGs, meeting its target in the first year itself, which marks a major success.
It is especially encouraging to see women, including those from marginalised communities, emerging as entrepreneurs. They have started 18 types of businesses under this scheme, running them successfully and creating wealth for their self-reliance. The ministry of rural development remains focused on developing infrastructure, basic amenities, and improving conditions in rural areas.
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