While untimely rainfall had been surprising people in many districts, the Katekalyan Tehsil in South Bastar (Dantewada) district has been declared as drought-affected.
An order to this effect had been issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department from the Mantralaya here. It had been stated in the order that all revenue collections will be stopped in the Tehsil till further orders. The order has been issued on April 20.
Early this year, the State Government reserved around 10 lakh litres of diesel and petrol in the petrol pumps of Bastar division to maintain operation of drinking water pumps during summer months, officials stated. This apart, about 35 Rig machines are stationed along with officers in Bastar region. This is the first time so many machines have been sent to the Bastar region.
The State Government also has ordered the district administration of the entire State to provide drinking water to all the citizens in public places keeping in view the summer season ahead. The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) officers had been ordered to repair all the hand pumps in urban and rural areas and ‘Nal-Jal’ scheme to be implemented strictly.
The officers have been instructed to clean all the drinking water tanks. District collectors have been ordered to convene a meeting of the local bodies’ representatives and Public Health Engineering Department officers and take stock of the situation on drinking water arrangements for summer season.