Mitigate water crisis in summer, officials told

Kurnool: District Collector S Satyanarayana has directed officials of the Rural Water Supply (RWS) department to take precautionary measures to mitigate the drinking water shortage in the ensuing summer season.

He held a review meeting with the RWS officials at conference hall in the Collectorate here on Wednesday.  Zilla Parishad (ZP) Chairman Mallela Rajasekhar was also present in the meeting. Addressing the officials, the Collector said that this year drinking water problem may not arise as the district received heavy rains during the months of September and October last year. 

However, he told officials to be ready with a contingency plan to overcome the water crisis in summer. He said that a proposal with Rs 6.74 crore has been forwarded to the government for taking up the repairing works of pipelines and other CPW scheme works, the Collector stated.

He instructed the officials to fill few ponds at Adoni under Tungabhadra Low Level Canal. Measures should be taken to supply water for Kodmuru, Dhone and Kurnool with the waters of Gajuladinne Project, he said, adding 2 tmcft water likely to be released from Tungabhadra Dam for resolving the drinking water crisis in summer.

Bringing to the notice of the Collector, the ZPTCs of Chippagiri, Veldurthy, Bethamcherla, Nandikotkur, Kothapalle, Peapully, Sanjalamala and Atmakur said water shortage is severe in their mandals and no proper pipelines were laid to supply water. The Collector assured them of resolving the issue after discussing with the engineers concerned.  

Satyanarayana mentioned that some funds are yet to be sanctioned under special packages and non-CRF. If released, then some more works would be taken up, he stated. ZP chief Mallela Rajasekhar directed the RWS engineers to tour water-starved villages so that they can steps for providing water prior to the onset of summer.

He suggested the ZPTCs to use the available water for their needs. He also urged the officials to arrange water tankers to supply water in villages. RWS officials, Executive Engineers, Deputy Engineers and others participated in the meeting.