Water at dead storage level in Karimnagar

Karimnagar: With the water almost reaching the dead storage-level in the Lower Manair Reservoir even before the onset of summer season, crisis is looming large not just in Karimnagar but four other towns of neighbouring districts.

At present, there is 2.5 tmcft of water against its total capacity of 24 tmcft due to scanty rainfall in the last two months. The dead storage-level of of LMR is 2 tmcft. The reservoir was built across River Manair on the outskirts of the city to provide drinking water to five towns in three districts.

People in Karimnagar, Vemulawada, Sircilla, Siddipet in Medak district, Warangal and many other villages located near the reservoir are likely to face severe water crisis in the ensuing summer, due to lack of adequate water in LMR.

In the last few months, water in the reservoir has dried up alarmingly, worrying both the public and the authorities.

Residents of these towns are worried over the scarcity of drinking water, in view of the drought conditions prevailing for the last few months. The deficit rainfall recorded in consecutive years is adding to the anxiety of the people. This year, the population in Karimnagar city has increased compared to the past and so does the requirement of water.

The irrigation authorities estimate that silt occupies nearly 1 tmcft of the 2.5 tmcft of water registered in the reservoir and this is leading to further anxiety among the people.

About 37 million litres is being drawn from the reservoir to meet the drinking water needs of the city everyday. The water is being supplied to different divisions in the city every alternate day.

Karimnagar Municipal Corporation Mayor S. Ravinder Singh exuded confidence they would be able to tackle the crisis. "It is our responsibility to provide drinking water to all the people till June. Boosters are being used to pump out water from the reservoir. Motors used last year are being readied to extract water," he explained.