Minister asks gram panchayats around Bengaluru to prioritise long-term solution to drinking water woes

Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Wednesday chaired the Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) review meeting of the Bengaluru Urban district and directed officials to ensure that gram panchayats fully utilise funds to address drinking water shortage in rural areas of the district. He directed officials to focus on permanent infrastructure instead of temporary measures.

Speaking at the first-quarter KDP review meeting for 2026-27, Mr. Gowda said drinking water should be treated as a basic infrastructure requirement. He asked officials to explore reusing connections of defunct borewells instead of routinely drilling new ones. “Several proposals are being received seeking funds to drill new borewells. There are more than 1,000 borewells that have remained defunct for years. The RR numbers of these inactive borewells should be transferred to new connections wherever feasible,” he said.

Mr. Gowda directed officials to complete the exercise before the next review meeting. He said a portion of gram panchayat grants should be earmarked for durable infrastructure, particularly drinking water, and waste management. “Development cannot be measured merely by how much money has been spent. Every rupee spent must translate into a solution to a problem faced by people,” he said.

He expressed concern over waste management in rural areas and said a more scientific approach was required to address the issue.

The Minister said scope for new roads had been identified in the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) limits around Bengaluru following an exercise undertaken over the past year. Some existing roads would also be widened, he said, warning that strict action would be taken against officials if negligence or rule violations were found in implementing the projects.

He further directed officials to identify vacant sites under gram panchayat jurisdiction for developing parks, playgrounds, and sports facilities. Such land should be formally handed over for the purpose, with compound walls constructed on priority, followed by development of the facilities based on fund availability.