Date:28/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/28/stories/2008022852510300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Falling ground water level adds to woes

S. Harpal Singh

Water problem this summer is estimated to be quite acute

Water supply schemes and open wells in many villages have already gone dry
Construction for some houses to be built under first phase of Indiramma is pending

Summer necessity: A bullock cart-mounted water drum is an essential possession of most families in tribal area and an unfinished Indiramma house an inseparable feature because of water shortage in Umri in Utnoor mandal.

UTNOOR (ADILABAD DT.): Rapidly plunging ground water level in Adilabad district has begun to cause an impact on progress of Indiramma houses, especially in tribal areas. Owing to last year’s deficit and uevenly distributed rainfall, water problem this summer is estimated to be quite acute despite new schemes to be grounded.

Existing water supply schemes and open wells in many villages have already gone dry like for example in Guda Mamda and Umri gram panchayats in Jainoor and Utnoor mandals. People fetch water for drinking and other purposes from as far a 2 kms in 200 litre drums that are mounted on bullock carts. Every household has one such possession in many tribal villages.

Pushpalata and Alim of Umri village, both Indiramma housing beneficiaries, pointed out the increasing water problem because the existing supply schemes going dry. “Our priority is to meet our drinking and other needs. Only then can we think of construction of Indiramma. Or, when we have enough water supply as promised by the Government,” said Alim.

House allocation

Every gram panchayat has about 500 to 700 houses allocated under different phases. Some of the first phase houses like those in Collegeguda locality of Jainoor mandal head quarters are still pending owing to water shortage among other reasons.

Going by the estimated requirement of water by engineers, each house needs about 100 to 200 litres of water for mixing construction material. In addition, curing of the structure requires about 300 to 400 litres per day. If construction activity goes on for about two months the requirement of water can be huge by these estimates.

Tribal Welfare Officials however, do not foresee a grave situation. “We have 95 new schemes coming up at a cost of Rs. 7.6 crore in the agency areas. Digging up of bore wells is being taken up on a priority basis and so is the electrification work and repairs to existing schemes. We hope to complete these fast,” said Deputy Executive Engineer Nagesh.