Balayya turns Hindupur saviour

Hindupur (Anantapur): At last, more than 3-decade-old drinking water problem faced by the citizens of the town is in the process of being solved, thanks to the efforts put in by high profile MLA and member of the Chief Minister's family Nandamuri Balakrishna.

Until recently, there was discontentment against the MLA for neglecting his constituency but drinking water and town beautification programmes and huge funds sanctioned is likely to turn the tide in his favour. The legendary town had been experiencing acute drinking water problem for decades, but no MLA could address it as the town does not have a drinking water supply source.

The town had been depending upon only groundwater and with bores drying down over a period due to depletion of groundwater levels. The town had been depending upon tankers water. 

Sensing the severity of the drinking water problem, the star MLA used his influence in the government to bring. funds for the drinking water project. The original project was to bring Penna Ahobilam Balancing Reservoir (PABR) water to Hindupur via Kalyandurg.

The project entails diversion of PABR water to Gollapalle and from there to Hindupur. Since there is poor supply to PABR dam from the Tungabhadra canal, water could not be supplied to Hindupur. Presently, out of the required 15 Million Litres a Day (MLD), only 5 MLD was available to meet the drinking water requirements of the town.

MLA Balakrishna, however, persuaded Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to supply Krishna water diverted to Gollapalle for the purpose of Kia Automobiles to also Hindupur.

When pipelines are laid from Gollapalle, 35 MLD water per day can be drawn, which means the town would have more than sufficient water and drinking water would be supplied on a daily basis. Infrastructure in the town also would be improved for storage of water and overhead tanks would be developed.

Municipal Commissioner Bhagyalakshmi told ‘The Hans India’ that the town with a population of 1.5 lakh and 38 municipal wards has 17,000 tap connections. A target to increase 2,000 tap connections in 100 days has been fixed to ensure that every house in the town has a tap connection.

Already, 800 new tap connections have been given. The water project would be completed in 3 months. Krishna water has been brought to Gollapalle Reservoir basically for Kia Motors Project, but MLA Balakrishna used his influence to bring Gollapalle water to Hindupur by laying of a pipeline from the reservoir to Hindupur.

Besides, the Rs 250 crore water project, Balakrishna brought Rs 66 crore to give a new facelift to the town. The funds had been released to boost the infrastructure facilities including roads, beautification of the town, drains development, new street lights and for development of parks.

By the end of the year, the Hindupur town would have a new look. Hindupur municipality is also taking steps to launch building of 13,000 houses for the poor in an extent of 118 acres of land.