Visakhapatnam: Women residents of Arilova Colony on Wednesday took out a rally from American Hospital to the GVMC’s Kalyana Mandapam with empty pots to register their protest against the severe drinking water crisis in the area.
The rally was organised by YSRC leader Vamsikrishna Srinivas. He had earlier also started a water tanker for the convenience of the locals.
Many YSRC leaders and party workers took part in the rally. The residents blamed the local MLA for ignoring the acute water shortage in the neighbourhood. They alleged that the minister has set up several liquor shops, at least one in each street, during the past ten years, but has failed to provide drinking water.
Owing to heavy consumption of ground water by the hospitals at Health City, the residents of Arilova Colony and other surrounding areas have been facing severe water shortage. The situation turned worse in the recent times forcing them to purchase water from private tankers.
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation has not restricted the usage of groundwater by the corporate hospitals in Health City. The locals alleged that the corporate hospitals have sunk bore wells till 1,000-1,600 feet depth.
Without procuring water in bulk, the hospitals in the Health City have been using groundwater for commercial purposes, the locals say. They are concerned about the rapidly dwindling groundwater resources. The condition may become critical in the coming summer season, locals say.
The residents of Arilova Colony and Visalakshi Nagar have lodged numerous complaints with GVMC authorities against the heavy usage of groundwater by corporate hospitals, but say that their protests have fallen on deaf ears.
