Dakshina Kannada to get ₹49.40 crore water metering plan, aims for 100% billing
The Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department has approved a ₹49.40 crore action plan to strengthen rural drinking water supply in Dakshina Kannada district. The plan, announced by Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Narwade Vinayak Kharbari, will be implemented under the World Bank-assisted Karnataka Sustainable Rural Water Supply Programme during 2026-27.
The action plan focuses on achieving cent per cent volumetric water metering and billing across the district. It includes an allocation of ₹23.10 crore for installing water meters on 61,610 taps in all gram panchayats, and ₹17.91 crore for fixing bulk water meters on 2,559 water reservoirs. These measures aim to accurately measure water consumption at both household and system levels.
Other components include ₹2.45 crore for repairing 14,456 water meters under a single village scheme modernisation project, ₹3 lakh for installing 20 smart energy meters, and ₹15 lakh for reviving 20 pure drinking water units. The plan also sets aside ₹2.16 crore for establishing three water quality testing laboratories, ₹2.58 crore for reviving 86 overhead tanks, ₹84 lakh for developing and declaring 28 villages as 24×7 water supply villages, and ₹17 lakh for social audit and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities.
The project’s primary goal is to make Dakshina Kannada the first district in Karnataka to have a volumetric water meter for every household. The next step would be implementing a 100% volumetric water billing system, which would make Dakshina Kannada the first district in Karnataka and the country to fully adopt such a system, according to Mr. Kharbari.
Mr. Kharbari emphasised that the volumetric metering and billing system is not merely for accurate billing based on consumption. Its larger purpose is to create public awareness about water usage, promote conservation, support scientific management of water resources, and ensure long-term sustainability of water supply systems. With precise data on household water use, the district can improve water accounting, detect leaks, and reduce unnecessary consumption. This system will also serve as a foundation for effectively managing and expanding the 24×7 continuous drinking water supply in the future.
The works already undertaken under the Jal Jeevan Mission are being further strengthened through this External Aided Project (EAP) action plan. The district is being guided towards the goal of providing “adequate, quality, continuous, and sustainable drinking water to every household,” Mr. Kharbari said. The initiative marks a significant step towards making the entire water supply and consumption process technology-based, transparent, and sustainable.
