Water flows for others, SC Colony left high and dry- Midnight protest in Panchalingala; women accuse MP of ignoring native village, allege caste discrimination

Kurnool: A drinking water crisis has triggered mounting anger in Panchalingala village, with women from the SC Colony staging a late-night road protest with empty vessels, alleging that water supply to their locality has been stopped for the past two weeks while other communities continue to receive regular supply. The protesting women accused the authorities of showing gross apathy towards their plight and alleged that caste-based discrimination was aggravating the crisis. Despite repeated representations to the concerned officials, the problem remained unresolved, forcing them to take to the road on Sunday night demanding immediate restoration of drinking water.

The women alleged that their repeated appeals for water had fallen on deaf ears and questioned why a basic civic amenity was allegedly being denied to the SC Colony when other parts of the village were receiving water. The issue has assumed greater significance as Panchalingala lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra river, yet residents of one locality are allegedly being forced to struggle for every pot of drinking water. The protesters demanded round-the-clock fresh water supply to the SC Colony and sought action against officials responsible for the alleged disparity.

The protesters also levelled serious allegations against Kurnool MP Bastipati Nagaraju, who is a native of Panchalingala. They claimed that when they approached him seeking intervention, he allegedly told them that he would not respond to their problem as they had not supported him. The women questioned how the drinking water needs of residents of his own native village could allegedly be linked to political support. The allegation has intensified criticism among the protesters, who accused the MP of allegedly remaining reluctant to address the problems of his native village despite holding a public office. Nagaraju had during the 2024 election campaign identified drinking water shortage as one of the major problems facing the Kurnool constituency.

Adding fuel to the controversy, the women alleged that former Rajya Sabha member TG Venkatesh had taken a fresh-water pipeline from the riverbed to Gondiparla and E. Thadrapadu villages, with the pipeline passing through Panchalingala. They claimed that the two villages were being supplied fresh water round the clock while the SC Colony in Panchalingala was allegedly left without adequate drinking water. Angered by what they described as discriminatory treatment, the women warned that they would demolish the pipeline if the water crisis in their locality was not resolved immediately. They demanded uninterrupted fresh-water supply to the SC Colony and warned that the agitation would intensify if the authorities failed to act.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

V Narendra Kumar

V Narendra Kumar[email protected]

Narendra Kumar Varikuntla is a seasoned journalist with 15 years of experience in reporting and news coverage. He holds a Master's degree in English Literature. He is Staff Correspondent for The Hans India based in Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh Before embarking on his career in journalism, he worked with Tata Robins Fraser (TRF) as a Confidential Assistant at the Rourkela Steel Plant, where he served for 10 years. His tenure at TRF enabled him to develop strong administrative, communication, and organisational skills, which have significantly contributed to his success in journalism. He began his journalistic career with Deccan Chronicle, where he gained valuable experience in reporting and news gathering. Since 2015, he has been serving as a Staff Correspondent with The Hans India, covering the erstwhile Kurnool district, including Kurnool and Nandyal. During his journalism career, Narendra Kumar has extensively reported on governance, politics, public affairs, social issues, agriculture, and developmental activities. He is known for his commitment to accurate, balanced, and responsible journalism, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. In addition to his journalistic profession, he is actively engaged in agriculture and personally cultivates 10 acres of farmland. His close association with farming provides him with firsthand insight into rural life and farmers' issues, enriching his reporting on agriculture and rural development.

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