Dr Danasari Anasuya Seethakka, Telangana Panchayat Raj, Rural Development, Rural Water Supply, and Women & Child Welfare Minister, announced in the Council on Tuesday that the Congress government has provided 3.21 lakh tap connections since assuming office.
Responding to questions raised during the session, Minister Seethakka stated that 53.98 lakh households in the state were receiving 100 per cent drinking water coverage until 2021. However, a survey conducted in rural areas in June and July revealed that 4.49 lakh households lacked tap water connections.
“We have successfully provided drinking water tap connections to 3.21 lakh households, but 1.28 lakh households still need connections. Efforts are ongoing to address this gap,” the minister assured.
Seethakka highlighted that while bulk water supply to villages has always existed, the demand for household tap connections has grown due to lifestyle changes.
She also pointed out significant shortcomings in the Mission Bhagiratha scheme, emphasising that many remote villages and hamlets do not receive water under the program.
“Instead of utilising local water resources, the government transports water from distant places, leading to a lack of faith in Mission Bhagiratha water. We are conducting a special drive to rebuild this trust,” Seethakka stated.
Relying on another question on fee reimbursement arrears, Minister Seethakka highlighted the Congress government’s 2007 initiative to introduce the fee reimbursement scheme, aimed at providing higher education opportunities to children from economically disadvantaged families.
However, the minister noted that pending fee arrears had accumulated significantly over the years: Rs 40 crore in 2019-20, Rs 209 crore in 2020-21, Rs 981 crore in 2021-22, Rs 2,120 crore in 2022-23, and Rs 1,845 crore in 2023-24.
This has resulted in total dues of Rs 5,197 crore owed to college managements.
Seethakka blamed the previous government for the delays in clearing these dues and assured that efforts were underway to resolve the issue and support students.
UNI VV ARN
