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Silence of siren in urban areas

Alerts about time and release of water in urban areas are becoming a thing of the past

Vijayawada:The practice of playing siren at specific timings in urban areas to alert the people on time and release of water in the civic bodies appears to be dying down across AP.

People used to depend on the buzzing sound being played by the civic authorities to alert the people about the time at certain intervals a day. Alerts about water release for public taps were also being issued this way. Now, only a few civic bodies are continuing the practice for release of water in some areas.

Civic authorities in Vizhianagaram say they intend to continue the practice, so as to retain a legacy. They play the siren four times in a day, at 6am, 8am, 12 noon and 8pm.

Vizianagaram municipal commissioner Nallanayya said, “Though life has changed and people have easy ways to know time, l we intend to continue the old practice in this historic town.”

Some municipal bodies used to play the siren to alert the people about release of water at specific times, so that the people could collect water from the municipal tap. This practice too has been given up for reasons like lack of regular maintenance. It would also require an employee to play the siren at intervals.

People recall how the sired used to help them rush to the public taps to collect water. Now, each house has a tap of its own and water gets collected in a sump to be lifted into the overhead tank for its supply through pipeline to kitchen etc.

The Eluru municipal corporation is still continuing the practice of playing the siren for release of water thrice a day. Municipal commissioner Bhanu Pratap said, “We intend to continue the practice. It helps the residents.”

Vijayawada municipal corporation gave up the practice some time ago; and so is the case with several civic bodies. The authorities have no idea about the present status of the device, whether it got rusted, was dismantled or even disposed of.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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