Bengaluru: With the rainfall deficit burgeoning, the govt has stepped up measures to ensure drinking water supply and generate employment in rural areas to prevent distress migration.Eshwar Khandre, minister, rural development and panchayat raj Monday said 178 taluks are facing rainfall deficiency, while 60 taluks have recorded a severe deficit. He said the govt has prioritised drinking water supply and is preparing contingency plans to meet demand if the rainfall situation remains poor over the next couple of months.Khandre said the govt has generated five lakh person-days of employment under the VB-G RAM G scheme since July 1, and aims to create 10 lakh person-days by the end of the month. He said the govt has set a target of generating 1.2 crore person-days of employment every month.He said all who applied through gram panchayats have been given work despite the Centre revising the funding pattern from 90:10 to 60:40. He said the state govt released Rs 2,900 crore during the first quarter to implement the programme.Khandre said the scheme offers work under 318 categories, including repair and maintenance of schools, health centres and govt buildings, construction of farm ponds, distribution canals, drip irrigation systems and mini-forest projects. Every rural job card holder will be eligible for 125 days of employment, he said.On drinking water measures, Khandre said the govt has released Rs 117 crore and approved works worth Rs 95 crore to tackle shortages. Officials have also been authorised to hire private borewells and supply water through tankers where necessary.Meanwhile, Khandre defended the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, saying: “The project will also benefit Tamil Nadu. Therefore, the neighbouring state should support it instead of opposing it,” he said. Tamil Nadu has been opposing the project on fears that its share of Cauvery river water would be affected.
