Threat of drinking water scarcity looms large over Anantapur dist

Anantapur: The district is in danger of slipping into a water crisis if effective steps are not taken in saving every drop of drinking water and preventing wastage. The water sources for the district are Penna Ahobhilam Balancing Reservoir (PABR), Chitravati Balancing Reservoir (CBR) and Mid-Pennar Reservoir (MPR).

The three reservoirs storage capacity is 11 tmcft, 10 tmcft and 5.40 tmcft of water. However the quantum of water currently available in the reservoirs is 1.701 tmcft, 1.411 tmcft and 0.164 tmcft respectively. Against the reservoirs capacity, water released and supplied from the Karnataka side is hardly 10 tmcft.

Water available has reached rock bottom levels in the three reservoirs, causing concern among Rural Water Supply officials. About 4 lakh population of Anantapur, Hindupur and Kalyandurgam towns depend upon the PABR. Everyday about 65 cusecs of water is supplied to these towns. Currently, the water available is 1.701 tmcft.

Simillarly the the towns of Dharmavaram, Kadiri and Puttaparthi depend upon the CBR dam water apart from 200 villages which too are looking unto CBR for drinking water needs. Currently, the CBR dam has a mere 1.411 tmcft of water.

Over the years, water consumption in villages has doubled but water allocation remained the same. Added to it, the groundwater levels had declined to its lowest which is 25.4 metres low. There are more than 2 lakh hand bores in the district.

Almost half of them have become defunct due to decline in water table. Krishna water can be expected to flow into the district only in July or August. Until then, what is left in the reservoirs should be judiciously used failing which a severe drinking water shortage is looming large over the district.

Every year 10 tmcft of water is required to take care of the drinking water needs of the district. Based on the requirement, the Irrigation Advisory Board (IAB) makes the allocation from the three reservoirs based on the requirement.

The CBR supplies water to Kadiri town and 99 villages, Puttaparthi town and 92 sorrounding villages, Dharmavaram, Pulivendla town and 138 sorrounding villages. The MPR dam supplies water to Singanamala constituency, BK Samudram, Garladinne and 26 villages.

The Kanekal lake supplies drinking water to Gudiselapalle, Muridi, Nimbagallu and Rayadurgam town

HLC Superintendent Engineer S Rajasekhar speaking to The Hans India admitted that the water availability position is precarious and the water available in the three reservoirs hardly caters to district needs until July.

Measures are being taken to preserve every drop of water and prevent wastage at any cost and unless people realise the gravity of the situation and save every drop of water, the district is in trouble, he warned.