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Dry Guntur combats acute water crisis
A tanker of water is selling at Rs.1100, a drum of water is being sold at Rs.150 and water can at Rs.20 in Guntur city due to acute drinking water problem. Residents of several apartments are dependent on water tanker supplies for Rs.1100 each and sharing the water
Guntur: A tanker of water is selling at Rs.1100, a drum of water is being sold at Rs.150 and water can at Rs.20 in Guntur city due to acute drinking water problem. Residents of several apartments are dependent on water tanker supplies for Rs.1100 each and sharing the water. Due to depletion of groundwater tables, the situation is forcing the residents of several colonies to purchase drinking water and water to be used for other than drinking water purposes. A family is on an average is spending Rs.2100 per month for drinking water, though the residents are paying water taxes to the GMC. There are 1.5 lakh families and 6.5lakh people in Guntur city.
Highlights:
- Groundwater tables fall to 30 metres from 15 metres due to deficit rainfall in Guntur city
- Residents regularly purchasing water from tankers and drinking water can suppliers
This is the situation in SVN Colony,Kriranmayeenagar,Vidyanagar, Sri Vaishavi Nagar,Netajinagar, Koritepadu, Gujjunagundla, Nagaralu, Budampadu, Ankireddypalem and Gujjnagundla. Borewells have dried up in these areas. Over 100 apartment complexes are spending Rs.40000 per month for purchasing drinking water. They are saying that for the last three months the GMC is not releasing sufficient drinking water. House owners are spending to Rs.30000 to Rs 40000 for deepening borewells, in spite of it, they are not getting water. Daily wage workers are who are not in a position to spend Rs.1500 to Rs.2000 per month are migrating to other towns.
The GMC is releasing daily one -hour drinking water, which is not sufficient to meet drinking water needs of the people. Generally drinking water consumption will increase in summer and the GMC is not able to supply the drinking water to meet increasing needs of people. Almost of all families is facing drinking water shortage. Deputy director of Groundwater Department, Guntur district M.Durga Prasad said " Groundwater tables in Guntur Koritepadu and surrounding areas fell to 30 metres, from 15- meters in Guntur city. Groundwater is not discharging. “Groundwater tables are expected to deplete further in Guntur city due to summer."
Superintendent engineer R.Gopalakrishna Reddy said “ GMC is releasing 95 MLD to meet drinking water needs of the people, while requirement is 100 MLD. We are engaging 52- tankers and making 500 trips and supplying sufficient drinking water to the residents. We are supplying drinking water to extension colonies also. There is no drinking water problem in the city .Though we are releasing sufficient water, some of the house owners are using electrical motors and drawing more drinking water and using the same for other purpose. As a result, some of residents are not getting sufficient water. I am reviewing drinking water supply in Guntur city. If comprehensive drinking water scheme is completed, GMC could able to implement 24x7 drinking water scheme” he informed.
By V L Syam Sundar
