Urban News

The Hindu 03.05.2010

Water problem gets worse in city

Special Correspondent

DESPERATE SITUATION: A migrant worker tries to collect water from a leaking main line for his daily needs on the Banjara Hills Road.

Hyderabad: A demonstration with empty pots may be an annual ritual for public representatives, but for many residents in the State capital they are becoming a harrowing fact. With summer peaking, the elixir of life is getting scarcer by the day. Notwithstanding what the Water Board says, the supplies have suddenly turned short and erratic.

Complaints of insufficient supplies are pouring in from several areas. “We are getting water alright but it is very meagre,” is the refrain. Some areas are experiencing the problem of supplies suddenly stopping without notice. For instance, in parts of Nehru Nagar in East Marredpally several houses went without water for two days recently.

Crisis in Malkajgiri

The situation in Malkajgiri is simply worse. Nearly 40 per cent of the area is getting water once in 10 days, forcing residents to depend on tankers. The problem has arisen due to supplies stopping from the Defence Colony reservoir consequent on water level in the Singur reservoir dropping. The other reservoir at Gowthamnagar gets Krishna water. “We tried to represent the problem to Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, the other day when he visited A.S. Rao Nagar, but we were not allowed to meet him. In fact the police beat up women who wanted to submit a representation,” said B.T. Srinivasan, vice president, United Federation of Residents Welfare Association.

Situation acute

Same is the case in the surrounding localities. The problem is more acute in parts of the old city like Sultan Shahi, Gowlipura, Lal Darwaza, Uppuguda and Lalitabagh. The main problem here is of low pressure. Recently the supply was switched to alternate day. “But now it is restored”, says Adil of Falaknuma.

In interior areas like Bandlaguda, Hashamabad, Errakunta one can see residents fetching water from far off places. The area being hilly, houses here have problem getting water. As such, some residents have constructed sumps at lower levels to collect water. In peripheral areas too, it is an endless struggle for water. Long rows of empty pots are a regular feature here.

The Hindu 29.04.2010

“Drinking water supply is sufficient in Thanjavur”

Special Correspondent

—Photo: M. Srinath

Civic issues:Municipal Council meting in progress in Thanjavur on Wednesday.

THANJAVUR: There was no drinking water problem in Thanjavur Municipal area and 30 million litres per day is supplied from Vennar and Thirumanur pumping stations and from local sources like borewells, said Kamaraj, Municipal Engineer, here on Wednesday.

Replying to Irai Karkuzhali, councillor, who raised the issue of drinking water and wanted to know how much water is supplied, Mr. Kamaraj said that the present supply is sufficient for the municipality and in fact per capita supply in Thanjavur is more than water supplied in other municipalities.

Sadasivam, councillor, wanted to know whether action has been taken against those who illegally pump drinking water using motors. The engineer said that three motors from Vandikara street and Anna Nagar have been seized. Subramanyam, councillor, said that verification by officials for issue of new ration cards in Thanjavur Municipal area is not done properly.

So many consumers have not got their ration cards.

Ration card verification

There are 62 ration shops in municipal area and ration card verification should be done. To this Commissioner, Nadarajan, said that the work is related to Revenue Department. It has to be appealed to the Collector and District Supply Officer.

New rates fixed

The municipality adopted resolution approving new rates fixed for giving permission for construction of buildings in the municipal area. Thenmozhi Jayabal, Chairperson, presided over the meeting.