Kurnool facing drinking water crisis

Kurnool: People of the district have been facing acute drinking water shortage and are seen confronting with the officials as the water being supplied for one hour on alternate days is inadequate. Confrontation of officials by the poor is a matter of concern in some of the Assembly constituencies. People are not in a mood to give credence to official promises to tide over the crisis.

Highlights:

• Officials supplying drinking water to city residents for one hour on alternate days
• People of the district are worrying about the shortage of drinking water in future in spite of official assurances
  

Meanwhile, the Kurnool Municipal Corporation is all set to provide drinking water by taking any amount of risk even if the endeavour pricks a hole in its pocket. The problem persists in spite of having many irrigation projects like Srisailam Reservoir in the district.

Desired results could not be achieved even after releasing water to Telugu Ganga Reservoir, Srisailam Right Branch Canal and Kurnool-Cuddapah Canal to the district through Pothireddypadu head regulator as these resources are effective only when there is 854 feet of water in Srisailam project, But under the prevailing conditions, maintaining the desired water level is not feasible. The Rayalaseema region has Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers, but the people face severe shortage of water. In Kurnool district, the drinking water problems of residents of Kandanavolu will reach dizzy heights especially during summer.
As an alternate to Pothireddypadu head regulator scheme, the then Chief Minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy floated Muchumarri lift irrigation project, which the TDP upon succeeding the YSR regime completed and dedicated to the nation. The lift-irrigation scheme is not handy under the prevailing situation.

In Dhone Assembly constituency, the poor, who cannot afford to buy drinking water tankers revolted against the officials seeking drinking water supply. Similar, situation prevailed in Aluru, Pathikonda, Adoni and Kodumur Assembly constituencies.
Lavanya and Ganga, residents of Kurnool, sought to know how can residents of the city will be able to manage the summer season with officials supplying drinking water one hour on alternate days.

According to municipal commissioner Ravindrababu, the city requires at least 70 million liters per day. Tungabhadra water is released from Sunkesula reservoir daily to store it in summer storage tank. The water is released to the city residents in phases after purifying it. But, water level in Sunkesula reservoir has gone down. Since the reservoir is not getting inflows from upper reaches, officials are working on alternate plans.

Currently 50 cusecs are lifted from Devamadugu region. The District Collector has ordered officials to divert 0.5 tmcft water from Gajuladinne project, but the diversion seems to be a cumbersome process. To divert water from Gajuladinne, first officials have to channelise water from Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanti into Pandikona reservoir and from there to the Gajuladinne.

Water from it will reach summer storage tank at Munagalapadu through Kurnool branch canal and Kurnool-Cuddapah canal.
District Collector Vijaya Mohan is confident that the people of the district would have no drinking water problem at all this summer. People of the district are worrying about the shortage of drinking water in future in spite of the official assurances to the contrary.

By Harikishan