Eluru, Sept. 17: In an effort to ensure safe drinking water to the people in the rural areas in the state, the Congress government has spent nearly Rs 5,150 crores so far. Minister for rural water supply Pinnamaneni Venkateswara Rao addressing the people at Dendulur and Gopannapalem villages here on Wednesday said that the government had taken up special measures to ensure supply of potable water. He said that the Telugu Desam (TD) government during its nine years rule spent only Rs 2,400 crores. In order to provide protected drinking water at dalitwadas, the government had introduced Ambedkar Swajaladhara scheme and added that under the scheme, Rs 4.28 crores was allocated. Minister for minor irrigation Maganti Venkateswara Rao said that the Congress government had allocated more funds to develop the basic amenities. Earlier, Mr Venkateswara Rao inaugurated a protected drinking water scheme taken up at a cost of Rs 5 lakh at Maseedupadu near Gopannapalem.