Water woes parch Palamur

Wanaparthy: With the onset of the summer people make a beeline to the nearest agriculture borewell on the outskirts of villages right from mornings to fetch the much-needed life-giver. They compete with one another for securing small quantities of water, even giving up MGNREGS and farm work and risk their lives in the process.Water shortage is not confined to only summer. It has been the feature for many years in many villages of the erstwhile Mahbubnagar district. Yet none is bothered to take any step to lessen the misery of the people.

Even after decades many villages in the district continue to suffer drinking water shortage, despite it being the confluence of the mighty Krishna and Tungabhadra drivers.Even though the Krishna flows in hundreds of kilometres in the district people continue to be content with water shortage, both for irrigation and drinking.

The drinking water problem continues to plague many villages, with scores of residents suffering severe shortage. Now they have to cry for water.With scientists forecasting extreme hot weather this year, inaction of the State government in finding solutions to the problem is posing a threat to people’s lives.

They have to put up with very hot weather. Also the groundwater levels are depleting. Yet there is no action by those in power. In this gloomy scenario borewells have become the saviours of rural masses, where safe drinking water is scanty.To add to people’s problems, even the level of these bores is fast falling. Not only there is scanty supply, which stops after sometime. As such they have to wait for water right from the morning. They have to give up work and perform feats nearer homes for securing drinking water.

While some people fetch water from their agriculture borewells, others are taking grave risks for getting a pot-full from other sources like deep wells. An example of the hardships facing the people is evident in Chandragarh village of Amarachinta mandal in Wanaparthy district. Already they are facing the heat even before the setting in of summer right from 6 am onwards. They are striving hard to fetch a pail of water from deep wells in villages even risking their lives. While women stand in queues, men get into well using ropes.

This has been happening for years. Some residents told The Hans India that they have been taking up this difficult task for years, particularly during summer, when water shortage hits them hard.In Chandragarh all reach wells. Men get down using a rope. Each passes on a vessel with water to another standing at a higher level. Thus, every family in the village manages to get one or two vessels of water.

This has been happening for years, despite the fact the Jurala project is just three km away. The residents are sure to be left with no water if they don’t take bold steps like getting into wells. In the event of any mishap involving a man using a rope to get into water only drowning is the end result.The villagers grumble while speaking to THI they have to face difficulties for bathing their children. Their hardships increase if relatives come calling, as they are unable to even offer water for drinking.Several villages in the erstwhile Mahbubnagar district face similar problems.

With bores going dry, the residents are running to the nearest agri well to secure water a few km away, like in the case of Dharmapur village, with about 400 residents, in Angadiraichur gram panchayat of Kodangal mandal (Vikarabad district) have been suffering for hundreds of years putting up with water shortage. They have to walk hundreds of km to collect water with glasses to be poured into a vessel. This has been scenario throughout the 365 days in a year. This problem is resulting in cancellation of marriages, with none willing to offer brides to residents.

This has been happening even the RWS officials prepare plans to solve water shortage problem and submit proposals to the government. But their plans are not implemented by the administration. As usual proposals costing Rs.64 crore have been sent this year, but they are confined to only paper. Water shoratage in Mahbubnagar and Nagarkurnool district is severe. They require an expenditure of Rs.50 crore for solving the problem. The four districts in the erstwhile Mahbubnagar need Rs.63.42 crore, say officials in their reports to the government. Even these reports are confined to papers.

By V Narender Chary