Jal Nirmal & beyond, Karnataka

Community Water Plus, a research project, has investigated twenty case studies of successful community managed rural water supply programmes across 17 states in India. Through these case studies, the research has gained insight into the type and amount of support to community organisations that is needed, and the resources implications of this 'plus' – in terms of money, staffing, and other factors. This case study presents the case of the World Bank assisted Jal Nirmal Project in Karnataka.

Belagavi, one among the 11 northern districts of Karnataka suffered from water shortage and water quality problems particularly in summers. Under the Jal Nirmal project rural water systems were put in place. These are managed by Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC). The Rural Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Department has facilitated the setting-up of these VWSCs through trainings and technical support and trained them for operation, maintenance and tariff collection. In spite of high tariff norms, payment is regular and sufficient to cover operational expenditure and deliver quality services. Therefore the water schemes operating in Belagavi are classified as 'Community Management with Direct Support'.