Water crisis a major problem for Mancherial town

Mancherial: Mancherial town is undergoing acute drinking water crisis even before arrival of summer. Ironically, it is situated a stone’s throw away from Godavari river and Sripada Yellampalli major irrigation project. Frequent leakage of main pipeline that supplies water from Godavari river to overhead tanks can be attributed to the challenge.

Geographically, Mancherial is located barely five kilometres away from Godavari. The lifeline of northern Telangana, Sripada Yellampalli Project is not farther than 10km from the town.

However, the coal belt town has been witnessing a shortage of drinking water for many years. In particular, it sees a severe crisis in summer, forcing citizens to rely on private tankers and causing a financial burden on the civic body.

The supply of drinking water to several parts of the town is being hit at least once in a weak, following damage to the pipeline caused by execution of Mission Bhaghiratha works. The pipes used for laying the line to draw water from Sripada Yellampalli Project were of substandard.

The authorities reportedly did not check the quality of works of the safe drinking water scheme taken up in the past at a cost of 29.5 crore. Consequently, the rendering protected water to the town is being halted at regular intervals. Water is not even being provided through taps to holders of connection for every three days in place alternate days.

Lingam Rajanna, a native of Gowthaminagar, said that due to irregular supply of drinking water through taps, the connection holders were forced to depend on borewells that are being dried up fast due to scanty rainfall registered in this monsoon.

“The town is on the shores of Godavari. But, authorities of the civic body are unable to provide sufficient drinking water to the town. How long citizens continue to experience this situation?” he said.

The challenge is aggravated from February to June in a calendar year. To overcome the crisis, authorities of Mancherial municipality hire private tankers by spending a huge chunk of the budget. But, they draw criticism for allegedly swindling the funds under the guise of renting the tankers. Now, the question remains is: will officials of the civic body be able to address the problem in this impending summer?