Water shortage hits Adilabad district amid soaring temperatures

GOTTIPATAR (ADILABAD): Rural areas here have begun facing water scarcity much before the onset of summer. Villagers are going long distances by bullock carts to collect water in plastic drums. Day temperature is already high.
 
Archana Jabade of Gottipatar of Utnoor mandal said her village faced water scarcity much before the onset of the summer. “We go and get water from the lone bore well a distance away to meet the family requirements every day.” She complained that Mission Bhagiratha water is being supplied very irregularly. “Sometimes we get it once in 15 days.”

Water pipelines got damaged at various places en route to their village located on the hillock. “We use the Mission Bhagiratha water for washing clothes, bathing and other purposes but use borewell water for drinking purposes.”
    
Many villages in Nanoor, Gadiguda, Indravelli, Utnoor and Adilabad Rural mandals are reeling under a severe shortage of drinking water.

Many interior areas lack supply of water from Mission Bhagiratha due to various reasons. Adivasis and Dalits of these interior areas reach upto waterholes, streams and rivulets to meet their daily requirement but these small water sources would dry up during the summer heat.

Men and women reach these water bodies to collect water in steel pots and plastic drums much before Sunrise, stand in queues and wait for their turn to collect water. It takes time for water to recharge. Curiously, when this reporter went to an interior Gottipatar village to study the water scarcity situation, local leaders of the ruling party warned the women from airing their views on water scarcity to the media.

Temperatures are feared to be high this year and it would have an adverse impact on the water bodies and groundwater levels.