SCB gives a stick to slums

Water to slums once in nine days, colonies every alternate day

People residing in slums in the Secunderabad Cantonment receive water supply once in nine days but the SCB supplies water to colonies on alternate days. Repeated requests have fallen on deaf ears says Amjad Khan of Basthi Vikas Manch, an NGO working in the Cantonment area. He adds, “The first 15 minutes of water supply is highly contaminated. The supply is for 45 minutes and is insufficient. People are forced to consume contaminated water stored for more than 10 days.”

Aliya Khatoon, coordinator, Basthi Vikas Manch says, “The SCB website shows Rs 500 for individual house water connection they have collected Rs 3,000 per household from the ward 2 and 3 slums. It has been ten months but there is no progress on this front.”

Residents of Ambedkar galli, Pochamma galli, Nagadevata galli, Gangaputra galli, Mohemmedia Masjid galli and Hanuman galli do not receive water for days on end. “The lack of water is resulting in fights among residents,” said Anwar, a local resident of Gangaputra galli.

Amjad Khan of Basthi Vikas Manch says, “The entire functioning of the SCB is highly politically influenced and does not express any sense of responsibility. While residential colonies get supply of drinking water on a regular basis, the slum dwellers are ignored.”