Telangana Govt backtracking on funds to Mission Bhagiratha

​Hyderabad: The much-trumpeted Mission Bhagiratha seems to be unyielding contrary to the hyped expectations. The Government of Telangana has expended only Rs 5,612.89 crore in 26 segments out of Rs 8,791.71 crore released for this Rs 40,000-crore flagship programme of the state government --Mission Bhagiratha.

Under the Right to Information Act, 2005, this RTI correspondent of The Hans India filed an application with the Chief Engineer, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department on August 10 this year.

The public information officer took his own sweet time and released the information on October 25, which is 75 days after filing the application. He is required to furnish the sought information within 30 days under section 7 (1) of the RTI Act.

The information has been provided upon making the first appeal to the first appealate authority in the office of the CE, RWS. The Chief Engineer was asked to state clearly “What is the extent of fund allocation, release and expenditure by State and Central governments under the scheme?”

Similarly, information under the RTI was also sought on how many villages had benefit so far under the scheme. Also, the CE was asked to name the quality control authority to the scheme. Further, the CE was asked to furnish information on whom should people complain in case of breakage of pipelines or leakages and damage to motors.

According to information furnished by the Chief Engineer, the government of Telangana had not allocated a single rupee in the budgets for 2014-15 and 2015-16. However, the State government went on record stating that it is prepared to spend at least Rs 12,000 crore in 2016-17.

But, in 2016-17 it released Rs 1,450 crore for the project in October. According to information received by this RTI correspondent from the PIO, out of 26 segments 11 works in eight segments have been completed by October-end.

The contractors who executed the works are: Kaveri Infra, L&T, MEIL, KOYA, KBN Reddy and NCC. The government incurred an expenditure of Rs 803 crore to get the 11 works executed in the eight segments.

As a result, 5,325 habitats received drinking water supply, which is subject to field verification. In other segments, three works are supposed to be completed by November-end, one work by December-end.

Under the Mission Bhagiratha Scheme, 100 LPCD (litres per capita per day) are supposed to be supplied to people in rural areas, 135 LPCD to people in municipalities and 150 litres per capita per day to people in municipal corporations. The project is being implemented in 26 segments of nine districts (prior to creation of new districts).