Facilities like a ‘pucca’ road, safe drinking water and drainage still elude residents of about 400 houses inhabited by 200 each families of leprosy patients and rickshaw pullers near Addanki-Narketpalli Bypass Road, about three km from here, although the colonies are over 30 years old.
Besides, the lone bore-well for the residents is not working and it urgently needs repairs. The other major problem is the open drain passing through the colonies, bringing filth from other areas of the town. It chocks leading to overflow, emanation of unbearable foul smell and pot-holed mud road getting water-logged. As a result mosquito menace is severe, a resident G. Satyanarayana told The Hindu . During monsoon water enters the houses, adding to the woes of residents.
Only two or three of the 15 public taps for the colonies are working, say S. Pulliaiah and A. Appa Rao. The bore water supplied is not sufficient to meet the needs of all, as it lasts half to one hour, that too once in two days.
D. Raja, an auto driver, and K. Sunil, electrician, both children of treated leprosy patients, said the drinking water provided by a tanker once a week or ten days is grossly inadequate. There are virtually fights among the residents to secure a pot of water. They want Nagarjunasagar water supply through the public taps since residents can’t afford individual connections. They also want a cover for the open drain so that its damage can be minimised.
The youth point out that because of the problems facing the colonies several residents have sold their dwellings, having realised that the indifference of officials won’t help solve their problems.
