THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Phase II of Jalanidhi project implemented by Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (KRWSA) which has started operations will see increased participation of grama panchayats (GPs), besides a change in the cost-sharing pattern and the institutional structure. Explaining the major aspects of the second leg of the project, KRWSA executive director Prasanth N told reporters here that the second phase would see the GPs entering into a direct agreement with the beneficiary groups (BGs) and having a joint ownership over the assets along with the BGs.“There will be a major difference in the cost-sharing pattern. The share of BG contribution has been reduced from 15 to 10 per cent. “Additional burden of 5 per cent will be borne by GPs concerned and the government’s share would continue to be 75 per cent of the total projected cost,” he said. Also, in order to provide field support to panchayats, KRWSA will provide a support team comprising one senior engineer and an accountant, who will be called project commissioner and junior project commissioner respectively.The first batch of Phase II has 30 GPs and a review meeting attended by the panchayat officials and the support organisations was held here on July 26. This World Bank-aided project, which covered 112 GPs in the first phase, would see the second phase reaching out to 230 grama panchayats. While the first phase incurred a total expenditure of Rs 411 crore, the second phase has a total estimate of Rs 1000 crore. “While the total population covered in the first phase was 11.28 lakh, the second phase is expected to cover a population of nearly 15 lakh.The executive director said that the KRWSA was initiating the second phase after undertaking a sustainability study in the chosen panchayats. “The selection of panchayats would be done in a fair and transparent manner. A comprehensive water security and development plan would be drawn up,” he said. Strengthening the functioning of water quality testing labs or setting up new ones have also been envisaged, he said.Schemes which were already subject to multiple auditing and internal auditing will be strengthened this time. Another highlight of the second phase would be that KRWSA will be working in partnership with the Kerala Water Authority. Around 250 existing KWA water supply schemes would be rehabilitated. In addition, three multi-grama panchayat rehabilitation schemes, which is meant for managing bulk water supply schemes, are proposed. One of the schemes already operational is the Chavara Panmana project. Cooperatives would also be given a chance to act as support organisations, Prasanth said.
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