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Pilgrim city in the grip of severe water crisis
Temple city is facing severe water scarcity for domestic use in the ongoing summer season. The Tirupati Municipal Corporation (TMC) is supplying 45 Million Litres per Day (MLD) as against the actual requirement of 63 MLD. The demand for water was increased with city population increasing to 5.25 lakh with merger of new villages in TMC and rise in pilgrims visiting the city.
Tirupati: Temple city is facing severe water scarcity for domestic use in the ongoing summer season. The Tirupati Municipal Corporation (TMC) is supplying 45 Million Litres per Day (MLD) as against the actual requirement of 63 MLD. The demand for water was increased with city population increasing to 5.25 lakh with merger of new villages in TMC and rise in pilgrims visiting the city.
Highlights:
- 45 MLD is being supplied as against the actual requirement of 63 MLD
- Corporation to cut down water supply from 90 minutes to 45
- Owners of private water tankers jack up prices
On an average, 50,000 devotees visit pilgrim city every day. The water is being supplied to city from Kalyani dam and Kailasagiri reservoir. The TMC is supplying water to domestic use for 90 minutes on alternate days. According to sources, the supply of water is expected to cut down to 45 minutes with fall in water levels in Kailasagiri reservoir. Residents are facing acute water shortage with mercury levels touching 44 degree Celsius and fall in groundwater levels.
Several bore-wells have become defunct as groundwater had gone down below 600 feet in the city outskirts. Residents are forced to purchase water by spending Rs 400 to 500 per tank once in three days. Sometimes, owners of private water tankers are increasing rates abnormally depending on the demand. About 70 slum colonies are worst affected with water shortage.
The civic officials have identified 8,000 unauthorised tap connections in the last five years but they did not disconnect them as officials gave a chance for regularisation.
Only 2,000 tap connections were regularised by the house owners. House owners are illegally drawing water by fixing electric motors for unauthorised taps. The civic officials are yet to take stringent action on those indulging in illegal drawing of water. However, Municipal Engineer-2 Chandrasekhar denied of illegal drawing of water using motors.
“Civic officials disconnected illegal tap connections two years ago and at present no motors are being used for illegal drawing of water,” he added.Speaking to The Hans India, TMC Commissioner Madhavi Latha said that the corporation is making arrangements to overcome water shortage. “We will pump the water from Kandaleru dam and Kailasagiri reservoir by month end to meet water needs of city residents,” she added.
By K Nethaji
