Civic body cites poll code; suspends water supply

- Municipal Corporation used to supply water through hired tankers from NTR Jalasayam
- Forcing people to buy potable water for a premium from private water tankers
- Paucity of funds is reason for discontinuing water supply and not election work, says In-charge Mayor P Subramanayam

Chittoor: Drinking water problem has become very precarious in Chittoor city and people are forced to buy water for a premium. During the last 15 days, due to scorching sun followed by depletion of groundwater levels, most of the bore-wells have dried up in many divisions. The supply of drinking water supply from NTR Jalasayam has become erratic in the city.

There has been consistent demand from the public to supply drinking water through hired tankers and their appeal to municipal authorities went in vain since the entire municipal administration is busy in making arrangements for holding by-election for 38th division of Chittoor Municipal Corporation (CMC) slated on April 9 followed by Mayor election on April 14, so officials overlooked the pleas of the public for adequate drinking water. An official clarified that no step in the regard would be initiated until April 15 as the election code is in force in the city.

Speaking to The Hans India here on Thursday, In-charge Mayor P Subramanayam admitted that there was no scope for resuming the transportation of drinking water in the city due to the prevailing election code. He admits to severe drinking water crises in various divisions in the city due soaring seasonal conditions. “Paucity of funds is the main constraint to resume the transportation of drinking water in the city. A contingent plan was submitted to the government to release Rs 12 crore drought funds to CMC in order to attend the water needs effectively. A whopping amount of Rs 15 lakh is needed every month for transporting the water through 76 hired tankers,” he explained and ruled out election work as the hindrance for water woes.

According to sources, out of 241 energised bore-wells, 124 have gone dry and the rest are yielding inadequate water in the city. On the other hand, all the hand bore pumps have dried up long back. As against the requirement of 22.54 Million Litres per Day (MLD), the available water supply is only 5.2 MLD through NTR Jalasayam. Earlier, to meet the drinking water demand in the city, the municipal corporation used to transport the water through 96 hired tankers, but due to various reasons, it has suspended the same. As a result, people are forced to buy water from the private tankers spending Rs 3 to 4 for potable water.