Summer is yet to set in. But residents in different areas of Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) are already having tough times to quench their thirst with water being supplied once in three days. To make matters worse, many borewells that were dug up in different wards decades back have become defunct.
“Water is being supplied once in three days. After repeated requests, SCB authorities send a water tanker in the afternoons or post evening. Setting aside all the domestic works, we wait for our turn to fetch a pot of drinking water,” says M. Tara, a resident of Kharkhana Bazar.
There are about 350 houses in the locality and only one water tanker is sent. While few fetch water, rest are forced to trek till Ganesh temple to get a pot of water, adds Rajini, another resident.
About 11 borewells were dug up in the ward a decade ago, of which only a few are functioning. Rest have become defunct and despite pleas, authorities are not bothered to repair them, says Reena another resident, pointing to the defunct borewell near Government school at Mutyala Mandi.
It's not just Kharkhana Bazar alone. Residents in Sastry Nagar, Anna Nagar, Chintal Basti, Mahatma Nagar, Doweton, Adarsh Nagar and other areas face similar problems.
SCB requires about 60 lakh gallons of water per day but Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) supplies only 37 lakh gallons per day. To overcome this problem, pipelines were laid at Mahendra Hills and Bolarum spending about Rs.20 crore, way back in 2009.
All the works were completed but the Water Board is yet to commence supply of water. It is learnt that the HMWSSB is demanding Rs.17 crore as connection charges to supply water and SCB is unable to pay the said amount, charges former Cantonment MLA and Telugu Desam leader G. Sayyanna.
This is becoming an annual feature. Even as residents continue to suffer, neither elected board members nor authorities, have bothered to strike out a deal with the water board to resolve the matter. Authorities and elected members should negotiate with water board and ensure sufficient supply of water, he demanded.
“Rs.17 crore is definitely big amount but SCB authorities can request the water board officials to facilitate payment in instalment to avoid burden,” said Mr. Sayyanna.
