No clean water for millions in rural India'

Seven percent of rural India has no access to clean water: World Water Day report

As per WaterAid’s new report--Wild Water: State of the World’s Water 2017--63.4 million people have no access to clean water in rural India. With 67 percent of India’s population living in rural areas, this means seven percent of the rural population is living without access to clean water. Not just this, India’s rural population is highly vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather events and climate change. The report further states that diseases such as cholera, blinding trachoma, malaria and dengue are expected to become more common and malnutrition more prevalent in the country. 

Pattiseema enters Limca Book of Records for record completion

The Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (Meil) has entered the Limca Book of Records for the fastest completion of Pattiseema river linking project in Andhra Pradesh. The project that linked Krishna and Godavari river, is the first such irrigation project in the country to be completed on time and without any budget enhancements. Along with this, the timely execution of the project has helped the firm report impressive growth during the financial year 2016. 

Cost overrun of 240 percent in lift irrigation schemes, thanks to delays: CAG

According to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), the projected cost for 13 lift irrigation schemes in Karnataka has gone up from a proposed Rs 3,459.19 crore to Rs 12,154.81 crore since 1991-92. These schemes, with a cost overrun of 240 percent comes under the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam limited and have been delayed by over two decades due to modification of the scope of work and several other reasons. The CAG has now recommended completing the projects within the stipulated time frame. 

Kerala seeks Rs 1,000 crore from Centre for drought relief

Facing the worst drought in 115 years, the Kerala government has sought a relief assistance of Rs 1000 crore from the Centre. Around 30,000 hectares of crops have been affected in the state so far due to deficient southwest monsoon followed by a failed northeast monsoon. Struck with a worsening situation, the government is making all efforts to improve the water levels, including rejuvenating ponds, rivulets, springs, streams, canals and lakes under Harithakeralam (Green Kerala) Mission.  

Cleaning of Mula, Mutha rivers ignored for too long: Activists

The Maharashtra government has allocated Rs 100 crore to the clean up of the Mula, Mutha rivers in its budget 2017-18. The allocation is a part of the Rs 990-crore pollution abatement Mula-Mutha river project for which a loan agreement has been signed between the Centre and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the year 2015. However, as per the environmentalists, the government has been too late to notice the pollution in the river which has turned into a sewer completely.  

This is a roundup of important news from March 20 - 27, 2017. Also, read the policy matters this week.