The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Agonising wait for rationed water

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 19, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Agonising wait for rationed water

By Our Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM, MAY 18. Potable drinking water has turned scarce for about 20,000 residents of Akkireddipalem and Nattayyapalem areas of Gajuwaka Municipality. Though groundwater is available in plenty, the fear of outbreak of various diseases is keeping them away from drawing it.

Following several representations, municipal water at Meghadrigedda pumphouse at Sheilanagar is being rationed. The authorities are giving one bucket or pot full of drinking water per head after making people wait for hours in long queues. "Industrial pollution is one of the main reasons for the situation coming to such a pass.

The Visakha Dairy, the Hindustan Zinc and other industries are responsible for polluting the groundwater,'' says the Telugu Desam councillor, G. Gopalakrishna.

After an ultimatum by him to sit on a fast-unto-death, the civic authorities made arrangement for sanctioning 10 pipe connections and supply water through tankers, he points out.

Some of the residents say that the officials are trying to shift the buck by promising a permanent solution to their problem once the Godavari water diversion project is commissioned. When contacted, the Municipal Commissioner, G.S.N. Murthy, expressed helplessness over the problem. "We are ready to supply safe drinking water to all the residents on payment of Rs. 90 a month,'' he said and wondered how one could think of getting water from the municipality without any payment.

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