Ensure clean drinking water supply in Dharwad dist, Santosh Lad tells officials

Pic: A renovated child care centre, located on the premises of Dharwad ZP building, was inaugurated on Monday by district minister Santosh LadDharwad: Expressing serious concern over the possibility of drinking water scarcity during the summer, district minister Santosh Lad has directed officials to ensure that no village in Dharwad district — including the twin cities of Hubballi and Dharwad — faces a shortage of safe and clean drinking water.Chairing the quarterly KDP meeting at the zilla panchayat hall on Monday, Lad stressed that while the district does not face a shortage of water resources, the quality of drinking water remains a critical concern. "Water from the Malaprabha River and borewells is being supplied, but we must ensure that it is safe for consumption," he said.The minister instructed officials from the rural drinking water supply and sanitation department and the health department to conduct scientific testing of drinking water regularly. He warned that officials will be held accountable in case of any untoward incidents due to the consumption of contaminated water.Lad also expressed dissatisfaction over agricultural issues in the district. He questioned why innovations from agricultural universities were not effectively reaching farmers, citing concerns over crop diseases, including large-scale flower drop in mango orchards this season. He sought clarification from the agriculture department regarding stagnant sowing area figures, despite land-use changes over the years.He noted that red chilli once grown in Kundgol had gained prominence in the Byadagi market, but cultivation has now declined. In Dharwad, mango trees that had flowered profusely this season have reportedly suffered disease, leading to large-scale flower drop."Brazil has sugarcane varieties that yield for seven years. Why can't we achieve similar breakthroughs here? Why is scientific guidance not effectively reaching farmers?" Lad asked.SC/ST funds, land for beneficiaries raisedMLC FH Jakkappanavar urged the minister to ensure that funds earmarked for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in various departments are not misused. He also appealed for govt measures to provide agricultural land to genuine SC/ST beneficiaries who currently do not own land.Mango flower loss raises concernMLA NH Konaraddi highlighted that mango trees in the district had flowered abundantly this season, but disease has caused widespread flower drop, leaving growers in distress. He urged scientists to take preventive measures against climate-related crop diseases.Minister Lad said he will inspect the ongoing work of the Integrated Pack House being constructed for mango value addition and review efforts to geo-tag Dharwad mangoes.In a stern warning, the minister also directed deputy commissioner Snehal R to initiate criminal proceedings against Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for delays in executing the continuous water supply project in the Hubballi-Dharwad twin cities, stating that repeated fines had failed to improve the company's performance.MLAs MR Patil (Kundgol) and N Konaraddi (Navalgund), deputy commissioner Snehal R and superintendent of police Gunjan Arya were present.