Drinking water scarcity plagues Rajahmahendravaram

Rajamahendravaram: Though the city is situated on the banks of great river Godavari, people of the city suffer for want for proper drinking water. They spend an average amount of Rs 200 to Rs 300 per month to purchase drinking water from other sources as Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation (RMC) have failed in supplying purified drinking water.

However, many of these water purifying plants have no BIS certification and resort to malpractices, allege officials

People have been suspecting the quality of drinking water supplied by RMC as the corporation was releasing drain water into the river and also International Paper Mill is discharging effluents into the river at Venkatnagaram, which is in the upstream of intake well of the Corporation.

A housewife, Ramya said that it is better to purchase drinking water spending Rs 250 per month rather than succumbing to water borne diseases.

A trader, K Lakshman Rao of Innispeta said RMC failed in stopping International Paper Mill from releasing its effluents into the river at Venkatnagaram. Politicians and leaders were also mum in this regard, he said. Hence, we are purchasing the drinking water from water plants.

L Somaraju of Aryapuram alleged that it is evident that the drain water flows into the river at Nalla Channel point. To avoid health problems, we are purchasing water bubbles, an extra financial burden, he added.

With the demand for purified drinking water, the water purifying plants and mineral plants have mushroomed. It is said that as many as 50 to 60 water purifying plants are functioning in and around the city.

In the name of purified water, some of these water plants have been filling bottles, tins, packets and bubbles with bore water, tap water and canal water and doing a good business, by selling them in the name of purified water, thus posing a threat to people’s health.

According to an official of Food Control department, there is no mineral water plant in the district. Many water plants have come up in the district, however, there are only 10 water plants that have BIS certificate.

In Rajamahendravaram, only two water plants have government permission and the remaining are all unauthorised plants, the official clarified. When contacted, RMC health officer Dr Indira said the corporation would take action on the water plants if they receive any complaints. Food Control department is the authorised department to deal with water plants, she added.

By SS Chary