In a span of 14 days, the residents of two villages in the Hindupur Assembly constituency have raised concerns over the government’s alleged apathy in providing them sufficient drinking water.
The residents of Pulamathi Sadlapalli have vowed to stop the campaigning of political parties till a permanent solution to their problem is found.
Women from the village have blocked the main road by sitting across it with colourful empty pots demanding drinking water.
Keerthi, A housewife, told The Hindu that for the last six months they had been struggling to fetch water as the lone public borewell of the panchayat went dry.
“We are forced to buy water from tankers every alternate day for all their needs,” she lamented.
On March 6, about 15-km from this village near Lepakshi, sitting MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna’s convoy was stopped while launching some government schemes.
Women of Lepakshi sought immediate measures to supply them water on a daily basis. The police had to interfere and pacify them.
On Tuesday, the Panchayat Secretary lifted his hands up saying there was no groundwater and no funds available with the panchayat to supply water through tankers.
On Wednesday, people gathered in the village and decided against allowing the contesting candidates from campaigning if their drinking water crisis was not resolved, said a resident.
‘Bath a luxury’
“Taking a bath has turned out to be a luxury for us as the government is not supplying water through tankers,” the residents complained.
“We are buying water for drinking and cooking needs, but for regular use it is beyond our means,” said another resident, Nagabhushanam.
Water from the Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (Madakasira Branch Canal) was release for their village tank only once.
“Now, even that source has dried up. Unless water is stored in Maruvanka through the HNSS network, groundwater will not improve,” pointed out another resident.
