Kurnool could face drinking water shortage this summer

Kurnool: Kurnool city may start facing drinking water shortage from May onwards if precautions are not taken.

The main source of water supply to Kurnool is the Summer Storage (SS) tank near Munagalapadu. While its storage capacity is 0.16 TMC, at present it is having only 0.10 TMC feet of water. Sunkesula is having just 1.03 TMC feet of water against 1.2 TMC. Further, Gajuladinne has only 1.79 TMC feet against its capacity of 4.5 TMC feet.

Currently, the city is getting 87 million litres of water as against 97 million litres. Engineers of civic body’s water supply wing say the water stored in SS tank may be sufficient for at most 60 days.

If Tungabhadra Dam does not release 3 TMC of drinking water to Sunkesula, there will be a major problem.

Drinking water is being supplied once in two days in suburbs of Kurnool like Krishna Nagar, Ganesh Nagar, Dhanalakshmi Nagar, Sherin Nagar, Labour Colony and Kodumuru Road, apart from Munagalapadu and Mamidalapadu, which have been merged into the city.

“Even in winter season, we got drinking water only thrice a week. Now, it is summer and out needs have increased while supply is short. We don’t know how officials will overcome this problem and provide us sufficient water,” says K. Rajyalakshmi of Guru Raghavendra Nagar.

“At present, there is only 0.35 TMC of water in Sunkesula reservoir for supply. We can supply it till about May 15. We will have to find alternative ways of supplying water after May 15,” said an official on condition of anonymity.

A way out is to draw water from Gajuladinne project, where 1.79 TMC feet of water is available. Irrigation officials say only 0.40 TMC of this water can be drawn.

A senior official, however, has assuaged fears. He maintains that SS tank has enough water for a month. In case supply of water to KC Canal is stopped, drinking water can be drawn from Gajuladinne.

“Kurnool city has faced no problem for last three years. This year too there may be no issues. If necessary, we will divert water from Gajuladinne,” the senior official assured.