DEVARAKONDA (Nalgonda Dist.): "Strike while the iron is hot" is what the tribal of Bolligutta thanda, 6 km away from Devarakonda town, have in mind to solve their water problem.

Repeatedly deceived by the broken promises of leaders before every election, the 40 Lambada families placed a precondition for their participation in the coming panchayat elections: "Sink a borewell or forget about our votes."

Since the hand bore at the thanda yields little water, the tribal walk one km in order to fetch water every day. "We are deprived of water. There is no water to take bath let alone quench the thirst of our cattle heads, sheep and goats," lamented Sherawath Gopal, a resident of the thanda.

There are about 250 voters in Bolligutta thanda, which comes under Konda Bheemanapally gram panchayat. "During every election they give us liquor and currency notes, but none is bothered to solve our water woes. This time we are not going to yield to anything," said Mr. Gopal.

In this situation the womenfolk are the worst sufferers and they are furious, showing no mercy to those who come to their thanda and ask for votes.

"They visit us to beg votes but they are least concerned about our basic problem. How can we live without water?" questioned Ratnawath Gangi, a villager.

The Government constructed a tank with a capacity of 10,000 litres at the thanda but there is no proper water source to fill it up. "They have constructed the tank, but we are not lucky enough to draw water from it.

They should have sunk the bore at a better place," said another tribal.

Contacted for his version on the `threat' issued by the tribal, Collector Kaveti Vijayanand said he would immediately send revenue officials to visit the thanda, and maintained that he would "take the necessary steps to solve their problem".

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