The Hindu 22.04.2010
Daily water supply to Ongole from June 1 promised
Special Correspondent
ONGOLE: Minister for Mines, Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, has assured the people of Ongole that they would be supplied drinking water every day from June 1, instead of once-in-three days as now.
Addressing Praja Patham meeting here on Wednesday, he said that it was the promise he had made during municipal elections held four years ago. He said he would keep the promise he made during Assembly elections that house-site pattas would be issued to all the poor in the town. He said he would not deter from keeping his promises under any circumstances. He said he would strive to ensure that all the welfare schemes launched by the former Chief Minister, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, are continued without any dilution.
Municipal Chairman, Bapatla Hanumantha Rao, said that the work on elevated service reservoirs and filtration plant taken up under Rs. 16-crore drinking water augmentation scheme are nearing completion and they would help municipality supply water to the people every day from June 1. He felt the need to replace the distribution lines too to meet the needs of the increased density of population in the town. He urged the Minister to get the scheme sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs. 30 crore to replace the distribution lines laid nearly five decades ago.
Representation
Several women living in Devuducheruvu locality represented to the Minister that they are not getting water even to meet their drinking needs for the last six months. All their representations to the municipal officials did not yield any result.
The minister hauled up the concerned assistant engineer who said that the problem did not come to his notice. He directed the Municipal Commissioner, Ravindra Babu, to visit the area, attend to any problem and ensure that the residents get adequate water in the next two days.
Another woman complained against Transco for failing to remove a transformer installed in front of their shops. The Minister directed Transco officialst to remove the transformer as the municipality had already paid the demanded f Rs. 40,000.
Rajiv Arogya Sri coordinator said 1,500 people were operated for various ailments in the town till now. He presented a couple who got their two children operated for gastro problems at Nagarjuna Hospital, Vijayawada.
