People furious over delay in water supply

Rajendranagar: Not far away from Hyderabad's major drinking water reservoirs, Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar, the residents of Narsingi area took to streets on Thursday over deferred water supply. The officials refuted and cited technical reasons for the delay.

The issue of water crisis reached a crescendo after local leaders organised a hunger strike near local municipal office and demanded an immediate resumption of the supply. They pointed out that, earlier, following successful representation to the higher officials by local leadership, water to Gandipet mandal and Narsingi was provided every alternate day.

However, a few days later, the release of water was gradually halted at Narsingi area keeping the supply continue to other areas. Presently, the people of Narsingi locality are getting water once in a week that too after midnight. "Though, we have brought the matter to the notice of the higher ups of the Water Works Department at Manikonda, no action was taken to resume the supply," said the protesting leader Shaik Mukthar, president, MIM, Gandipet mandal, who is sat on hunger strike on the water issue.

Mohammed Dawood, a resident, said that water was being supplied once in a week that too after midnight. Till recent past, the supply was satisfactory. Now, the situation has worsened." Water supply, he added, should be made regular and in the daytime will help the people to become stress free and allows them to sleep better at night. "If possible, the officials should increase the supply to the area so as to help people get sufficient water."

When contacted, the general manager (GM) Ravinder Reddy said, "We are regularly monitoring the supply to Narsingi area. Water is being supplied once in every three days contrary to the allegations of water being supplied once in a week. Though there are some issues with regard to supply. Presently, we are getting water between 2.2 to 2.5 million gallons every day and are supplying the same accordingly."

The GM said "works of pipeline are going on at Kokapet. Once it will be completed, the people of all areas under our limits will get the sufficient water supply." Mohammed Saleem, Mohammed Sadiq, Mohammed Ahmed, Aijaz Khan, Ahmed Khan, Shaik Yaseen, Shaik Yaser Abdul Jabbar, Shaik Nazir, Shaik Farooq and other leaders have represented the matter to the officials.