Salihundam pilgrim centre in grip of water scarcity

• Due to fall in water level in Vamsadhara river, infiltration wells fail to catch the water 

Srikakulam: Noted tourist and pilgrim centre Salihundam in Gara mandal has been facing severe drinking water scarcity though it is located adjacent to Vamsadara river. Salihundam is known for Buddhist centre and for Hindu religious temples. 

Even though a water scheme is existing here for supply of safe drinking water to 85 villages in Gara mandal, it is not working properly as a result water supply is became a major problem here. 

The prime source for water scheme is infiltration wells in Vamsadhara river and these wells are unable to receive water after December every year. Due to fall in water level in the river infiltration wells are failing to catch the water. 

As a result, Salihundam and other village people are unable to get safe water every day. To supply water for weekly once infiltration wells are being filled by extracting water from nearest agriculture farm wells. 

For this purpose, water motors also engaged on rental basis. “Water is being supplied weekly once here and permanent solution is required,” Venugopala Swamy temple trust board chairman Suggu Madhu Reddy told to The Hans India. 

“We will construct a gallery wall across the river for 2 km length in a cross design to store water and carry it to infiltration wells to resolve the water problem,” said rural water supply executive engineer P Ravi.