Even as lakhs of people on Monday went through a worst water crisis following the sinking of collection well of the 10-MGD filtration plant at Ramalingeswara Nagar, the general body of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) on its last day failed to discuss the issue.
The mishap that occurred on Sunday severely affected many areas in nine divisions in the city and at least three lakh people faced water shortage. Water supplied through the tankers reached only a few localities, while people of other localities had to depend either on borewells, if they had, or buy water from private sources.
Reasons not found
Despite efforts, the VMC authorities could not assess the reasons for the sinking of the collection well and restore the water supply.
Till reports last reached, water supply could not be restored to the affected areas. The VMC officials said that one of the three sections was restored, and pipelines that were damaged had been repaired.
They indicated that it could take another two days for restoration of the remaining two sections. The Corporation is making use of only two sections though three are at its disposal.
The VMC, alternatively, has planned to draw water from the 11 bore wells located at places, including Ranigarithota, Chalasani Nagar and Police Colony, to restore water supply temporarily, officials said.
The general body could not take up the issue for discussion as the ruling Congress and the opposition parties — the CPI, the CPI (M) and the TDP — squabbled over housing projects taken up under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
Mayor M.V. Ratna Bindu earlier assured the opposition parties that Municipal Commissioner G. Ravi Babu would make a statement on the issue, and the members could discuss it.
The subject was supposed to be taken up after the scheduled agenda. The opposition parties launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, and alleged that it utterly failed in keeping its promise.
Pandemonium
While Congress senior corporator Samanthapudi Narasaraju tried to explain about the subject, pandemonium prevailed in house as the opposition members were reluctant to listen. Meanwhile, Congress floor leader M. Rajeswara Rao read out the items on agenda, and the Mayor announced the winding up of the meeting.
