Rajaram tanda struggles with water problem

With the drying up of Singoor, villagers have to cope with little water supplied through tankers

The villagers of Rajaram tanda in Medak district keep plastic tubs ready to store water.– PHOTO: MOHD. ARIF

Ghani Bai and Chavali are waiting on a chapta beside their house for the water tanker to come so that they can fill the big plastic drums and proceed for work. Residents of Rajaram tanda in Kangti mandal of Narayanakhed constituency of Medak district, they are both over 60 years old.

The drying up of Singoor has brought with it tough times for this tanda of 1000-plus population with about 100 houses. Almost all the houses here have two elderly persons, two adults and three to four children.

Thanks to the initiatives taken by the district administration, on most days, a tanker is being provided by the Rural Water Supply (RWS) Department, which comes here and fills the plastic drums – sometimes two or three buckets less – put before every house.

With the same amount of water, they have to meet all their requirements like bathing, cooking and drinking.

Though the water is not sufficient, and they have to manage.

“Earlier, we used to get water from Singoor, but the drying up of the project has multiplied our problems. We are unable to get water regularly. Though an effort was made to divert water from Koulasnala of Nizamabad, district officials were successful till the mandal headquarters. We hope that the water will come to us shortly,” said Hira Singh.

The villagers say that their cattle has been facing very serious water problems, and they are not sure when the problem would be addressed.

“It is still February, and there are at least four more months for monsoon to set in. We do not know how to tackle this problem and what to do about the cattle, one of our main sources of income,” said B. Mungilal, a student from the village.