Water-starved people seek KCR's attention

Secunderabad: Fed up with making numerous representations to the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) for regular water supply, the residents of Ward No 5 initiated a signature campaign to draw the attention of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao.

T Satish Kumar Gupta, general secretary, Confederation of Cantonment Residents Welfare Association (CCRWA), said, "The signature campaign began on May 31 and would continue for more 10 days. We have already collected 500 signatures."

Drinking water is being supplied only once in a week in the SCB Ward-5 which comprises 42 residential colonies and 18 Basthis with an approximate 25,000 population. The residents of this ward are undergoing innumerable difficulties due to lack of drinking water and because of the huge demand for water, water tanker does not reach on time. Also, maximum public borewells have dried up and water distress has intensified, say residents.

The areas covered under the campaign include Kakaguda, Valmiki Nagar, 2nd Laxmi Nagar colony and the areas to be covered are Gandhi Nagar, Sanjeeva Nagar Basthi area, Dugar Gardens, Valmiki Nagar Samaj and some more residential colonies in SCB Ward-5.

The residents also want the water bills to be reduced. The monthly water charges were increased from Rs 315 to Rs 450 per month, whereas the GHMC is charging only Rs 240 a month.