PIPEDREAM: Water being supplied in jerry cans to residents of Saket township. — Photo D. Gopalakrishnan

HYDERABAD: Green spaces and spacious homes away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. That's Saket for you. The almost sylvan setting on the city outskirts is expected to make residents happy and content but it is not to be.

Lack of proper drinking water supply, bad approach road, no garbage disposal facility, etc. -- people here could have hoped for better living standards yet they seem to be facing the same problems as any other residential colony. And, it is drinking water that is exercising the minds of the 350 households of Saket under Kapra municipality limits. The entire State might have been drenched with copious rains, here however, just two large jerry cans of 20 litres are supplied to each household everyday.

Bore water is supplied on alternate days through an overhead tank in the township, provided for by the developers, Saket Engineers. "We have been waiting for the last seven years for a potable water connection. Several representations were made to the municipal authorities and Water Board but nothing was done," bemoans A.V.S. Jagannadha Rao, President of the Residents Association.

The township spread over 300 acres off the ECIL road is coming up in three phases with the first two nearing completion. In a couple of years, there will be over 750 residences and considering the present infrastructure residents are worried about its state when more homes come up. "Little has changed since we moved in here. The water problem remains while roads and garbage disposal have only worsened. Isn't it the responsibility of the developer and municipality to provide us basic infrastructure as promised when we bought the plots?" asks Col (retd.) S.K. Srivastava, a resident.

The municipal authorities were alleged to have simply thrown up their hands when asked for drinking water pipeline on the plea of fund shortage. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), in a better position now, has offered to lay a pipeline if the costs are borne by beneficiaries.

The developer put the ball in the association court much to their shock. "We have paid development charges expecting minimum facilities and were assured of potable water supply. Why should we pay the entire amount?" wonders D.K.R. Baig, another resident. They are ready to share a certain "minimum cost", nothing more.

"We have provided all amenities as per the agreement with the plot owners. We never promised to provide Manjeera water connection free. In fact, we have been looking after maintenance even after handing it over to Kapra municipality because this is our baby," exclaims Ravi Kumar, Director, Saket Engineers. He said Water Board had agreed to lay a pipeline and work could begin soon. This along with a new sump will cost about Rs. 65 lakhs but residents have to pitch in substantially, he added.

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