Water scarcity looms large over Kurnool

- Tungabhadra, Kundu and Hundri rivers have dried up and depleting groundwater levels have increased woes of villagers
- We have to walk 2 km for a pot of water, says G Siddappa, a resident of Joharapuram village in Aspari mandal
- However, RWS Superintending Engineer Hari Babu says plans are in place to mitigate water crisis in summer

Kurnool: The district is likely to face severe drinking water crisis this summer. Even before the onset of summer, many areas in the district including urban segments are suffering water scarcity. Long dry spell and scanty rainfall in the last rainy season has resulted in decline of groundwater levels. Tungabhadra, Kundu and Hundri rivers have already dried up and the absence of alternative drinking water sources, villagers are digging up ‘Chalimalu’ (water pits) in search of water in several areas. Public wells which were dug up to ensure water supply throughout the year, are crying for authority’s attention. With tube wells remaining defunct and water sources drying up, people are forced to walk to ponds for fetching drinking water. This is the situation prevailing in almost all urban areas and several villages in the district.

Tungabhadra River is the only source of drinking water to the residents of Mantralayam, Yemmiganur, and Kodumur assembly constituencies.

Even the Kurnool-Cuddapah (KC) Canal, Hundri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS) and Low Level Canal (LLC) are also unable to cater the drinking water needs of Alur, Pathikonda, Nandikotkur and Srisailam Assembly constituencies. The groundwater has drastically fell and the people of Kosigi, Aspari, Pedda Kadaburu, Chippa Giri, Nandavaram, Tuggali, Belagal, Gudur and Kothapalli areas are finding it difficult to get sufficient drinking water. The tube wells are either not working or the water available is not fit for consumption. The safe drinking water supply schemes which were set up in the water starved villages by spending crores of rupees have failed to serve the purpose. Some of the schemes are supplying water only few days as against the intended target. Pathikonda town which is located in the constituency of Deputy Chief Minister KE Krishnamurthy is also facing drinking water shortage.

Political leaders and officials are making statements but they are unable to provide drinking water through the schemes, while residents are worried over water shortage. Some villagers also alleged it is because of the careless attitude of the Rural Water Supply (RWS) department. “It has become everyday problem to the people of interior pockets of the Adoni revenue division to get potable water,” said a resident. “Severe water scarcity is prevailing in the village ahead of summer,” G Siddappa, a resident of Joharapuram village in Aspari mandal said. He stated that they have to walk a distance of two kms to fetch a pot of water.

“My district has Tungabhadra and Hundri rivers and various canals, but we don’t have sufficient drinking water,” N Shiva, resident of Piligundla in Gonegandla mandal lamented. People are literally fighting for water in several mandals, despite government spending around Rs 100 crore per year under various plans. However, Hari Babu, Superintending Engineer of RWS department, said that the officials are taking precautionary measures to overcome water scarcity in the villages. “Presently, drinking water is abundant. For summer, plans have been chalked to mitigate the problems”, he added.

V Narendra Kumar