Bengaluru: With one in six rural drinking water purification units in Karnataka currently non-functional, the rural development and panchayat raj department has decided to go on a repair drive this summer by addressing gaps in maintenance and ensuring proper allocation of funds across districts.Of the 19,638 units installed statewide, 3,380 are under repair, leaving about 17% of the infrastructure temporarily defunct. While the overall functionality rate stands at 83%, the distribution is far from uniform, with several districts — particularly in North Karnataka — witnessing acute disruptions.Kalaburagi and Yadgir are at the bottom, with nearly half the units under repair. Koppal, Gadag, and Vijayapura also report high levels of disruption, raising concerns over access to safe drinking water in already water-stressed regions. In contrast, districts such as Shivamogga, Hassan, Udupi, and Bengaluru Rural report better functionality, indicating relatively stronger maintenance systems.A key concern flagged by officials is the mismatch between repair needs and funds released. Vijayapura, for instance, has 250 units under repair but has received just Rs 10 lakh, while Gadag, with 193 defunct units, has been allocated Rs 62 lakh. On the other hand, Kalaburagi and Koppal — among the worst affected — have received relatively higher allocations of Rs 179 lakh and Rs 140 lakh, respectively.Lavish Ordia, CEO of Yadgir zilla panchayat, said most reverse osmosis (RO) plants in the district were set up between 2012 and 2017, and later handed over to gram panchayats for operations and maintenance (O&M). “Water is supplied at Rs 5 for 20 litres, and typically one RO plant caters to 3-4 gram panchayats. One GP has 3-4 villages, having a minimum of one RO unit in each village,” he said.He added that the annual O&M cost of each unit is around Rs 1.5 lakh, covering electricity and membrane cleaning and replacement, but returns remain low. “Each unit earns barely Rs 100-200 a day, making it financially unviable,” Ordia told TOI. Usage-disrepair linkHe pointed out that low usage is a key reason many units have fallen into disrepair. “Most households prefer borewell water, which they find sweeter. Even when RO water is provided for free, uptake is poor,” he said, adding that vandalism — such as coin boxes being tampered with or stolen — has further compounded the problem.In Bagalkot, which has 780 RO units, 188 are currently under repair, with Rs 55 lakh allocated by the govt so far. Shashidhar Kurer, CEO of Bagalkot ZP, said, “There are three main challenges in rural areas when it comes to maintaining these RO units — dried-up plants, unused units, and poor management by agencies. In many cases, the RO plants have become defunct because of a lack of proper O&M by gram panchayats. Some units that remain idle are being considered for relocation to areas where they can be better utilised.” Kurer added that he has sought Rs 4.4 crore for repair and maintenance of the 188 units, and expressed confidence the issue can be resolved once funds are sanctioned.The data reflects a broader regional pattern, with southern and coastal districts performing better, while northern districts — grappling with groundwater contamination and harsher climatic conditions — face higher breakdown rates. With summer intensifying and rural water demand rising, officials say urgent repairs and a need-based funding model are critical to preventing further slippages.RDPR minister Priyank Kharge recently reviewed the situation and issued directions to address the matter. He stated that pure water units requiring repairs must be taken up on priority this year. Highlighting systemic issues, he noted that many units have dried up because of a lack of water sources and poor accountability in maintenance. He directed officials to examine the feasibility of repairs, prepare a detailed blueprint, and submit realistic assessments before taking up restoration work.BOXState of pure water units DistrictRO plantsFunctionalUnder repairFunds disbursed (In Rs lakh)Chitradurga1,05677228446Koppal674393281140Vijayapura84659625010Kalaburagi510272238179Yadgir471252219123.5Bidar3911912006Gadag43924619362Bagalkot78059218855Dharwad46731715048— Source: RDPR department
