TS water level drops, crisis likely State pays no heed, no plan B for water

There has been no initiative from the state government to make alternate arrangements for drinking water during summer.

Funds have been stopped to all the drinking water schemes under the pretext of the Mission Bhagiratha. With the work progressing at a slow pace, chances of the Mission Bhagiratha water reaching households in summer are remote.

So far, laying of main pipeline works to draw water from Krishna and Godavari rivers for Mission Bhagiratha has been completed. The crucial part of laying intervillage and intra-town pipeline is still pending in all the districts.

Unless the intra piplelines are not laid, the water will not reach the households. However, contractors are delaying the intra-pipeline laying works under one pretext or the other.

While right of way has become a problem with property owners and farmers refusing to allow pipelines in some districts, people are opposing digging up of roads and not restoring them later to lay pipes. This has led to tussle between contractors and local bodies. While local bodies are insisting on contractors to repair the dug up roads, contractors are refusing to do so saying that it is not their job.

With this, representatives of local bodies are opposing digging up roads. Going by the current pace of works, the Mission Bhagiratha water is expected to reach households only by December.