The increasing demand for drinking water coupled with rising temperatures is proving to be a herculean task for Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) to supply drinking water regularly. Though most of the residential areas have water connections, it is the slums where the shortage is severe.
Areas such as Lakshmi Nagar, Picket, Fisherpura, 108 Bazaar, Karkhana, Ambedkar Nagar, Teachers Colony, Nandamoori Nagar, Gun Bazaar, Krishna Nagar and Trimulgherry to name a few, have been hit with erratic supply of water.
“We are relying on mineral water for the past many weeks because of inconsistent supply of water. Though water is supplied once in three days, it is only so for a short time,” says A. Madhukar, a resident of Trimulgherry.
The situation is even worse in Rasoolpura, Indiramma Nagar, Pochamma Temple, Vallabhai Patel Nagar, Katta Maisamma and Shiva Nagar. “There are over 50,000 people living in slums here, still there is no trace of consistent water supply.
All these residents are dependent on water tankers, which are sent once in four days.
Also, there is a water pipe line existing at Krishna Nagar, Kattamaisamma and CBN Nagar which covers about 1500 houses, but it is of no use,” points out Sada Keshav Reddy, Board Member of SCB.
To ensure regular water supply in all its areas, SCB needs over 90 lakh gallons of water per day.
However, it only receives about 42 to 43 lakh gallons, which is distributed through six pump houses. Though an agreement was made between SCB and Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board to supply 52 lakh gallons, the ground reality remains unchanged.
“We are trying to get more water from the Water Board and we are also sending our water tankers on extra trips to supply water to areas where the shortage is severe. On a few days, when the demand is more, the tankers are making over 90 trips, covering several areas,” C. Ravindra, SCB's Chief Executive Officer said.
