Quarrels, squabbles break out as people gather to collect water

NIZAMABAD: Acute drinking water shortage is leading to law and order problems in villages. People are fighting at public taps and while collecting water from tankers. Irate individuals, particularly women,  staged protests across the district demanding drinking water supply. Gram sabhas in gram panchayats are discussing drinking water shortage and people are pressuring elected representatives and officials to supply drinking water.

In Jukkal mandal, people locked up the sarpanch and the village secretary demanding water. Sadashivanagar mandal police registered a case against three persons who fought for drinking water at Uppalwai village. To get a pot of water, people rushed to the public tap and quarrels ensued. On receipt of information, Sadashivanagar police sub-Inspector, M. Prathap Lingam, rushed to Uppalwai village and calmed down the people.

Jukkal, Nandipet, Ka-mmarpally, Bichkunda, Yellareddy, Dichpally and other mandals have witnessed agitations for drinking water. People have been demanding drinking water supply through water tankers. To bring the situation under control, police rushed to agitation spots and dispersed people. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Kiran of Namdevwada in Nizamabad said that their locality is suffering from acute water shortage. “We are unable to get drinking water from 500 feet depth,” he said.  

Municipal and private tankers are the only source bringing drinking water to the people, he explained. Groundwater table has depleted and submersible pumps have turned dry, he added.

KCR to take stock of drought on April 29:

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has convened a meeting with district collectors on April 29 at MCRHRDI in the city to review the prevailing severe drought and heat wave conditions in state. This is the first meeting to be chaired by the CM on the drought. Mr Rao has been coming under fire from Opposition parties and social organisations for his silence on the drought in the state and for not chairing a single meeting so far to devise measures to tackle the situation.

The State Disaster Management Authority, which is headed by the CM, is yet to hold a single meeting on drought and heat wave conditions in the state. The CMO has issued directions to all collectors to come with full details on drought, drinking water problems, NREGA status, heat wave deaths etc., in their districts and the funds required for drought-relief measures.

While over 200 heat wave deaths have been reported so far, the government has confirmed only 50 deaths. The families of the affected families are also yet to receive compensation.