Dalits demand govt to provide drinking water

Rayachoti (Kadapa): In all, 43 Dalit families staying at Gottiveedu Dalit basti in Gaaliveedu mandal of Kadapa district were facing drinking water problem for the past two decades.

They are trekking one km distance to get a pail of water. Unable to bear the pain of drawing water from agriculture fields, they appealed the public representatives to provide drinking water many a time but in vain. As a last resort, they staged dharnas and rasta rokos. Therefore, the Collector responded to their demand and sanctioned a water scheme to their village.

Ironically, the leaders in the village completed the water pipe line works by fitting old pipes. Therefore, though the scheme was completed they did not get water due to leakage of pipes.It is learnt that the drinking water was being supplied to Rayachoti through Veligallu Scheme, so the villagers are taking water from the leaked pipeline near their village.

However, the villagers are suffering from fevers after drinking water from Velligallu water which was not purified. Dalits urged the authorities concerned to solve the water problems.