Hyderabad, April 07: It has been two years since 14 people in the Bholakpur locality died after consuming contaminated water. However, the situation has not improved a lot. Several residents allege that they still get contaminated water regularly.
“Despite the deaths, drinking water, yellowish in colour is still being supplied in many colonies in Bholakpur. When we tried to bring the issue before Water Board authorities, there was no response. Besides, officials during their visit to check contaminated water supply, suggested that yellowish water is not harmful and people can consume the water after boiling it,” complained Mohammed Zaheeruddin Samar, resident of Gandhinagar in Bholakpur locality.
A number of residents staying in various localities in Bholakpur area are also venting anger on what they said was the callous attitude of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) officials. They said the board had failed to provide clean drinking water even during summer.
Some residents addressed a press conference on Friday, coinciding with the day when two years ago, 14 persons died due to consumption of contaminated water. They demanded the authorities to provide clean drinking water. “Over the last few days, we have been getting yellowish water. We get this dirty water for the first 30 to 60 minutes and just when clean water starts coming, the supply stops,’’ complained Zaheer, another resident. Former chief minister late Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy had reportedly sanctioned a special grant of `12 crore for repairs and replacement of existing pipelines soon after the tragedy in 2009.
But locals alleged that the authorities did not spend the total amount and just released `1.33 crore. Protesting the callous attitude of Board officials, civil organisations- Basthi Vikas Manch and Joint Action for Water- approached higher officials of HMWS&SB, demanding release of `12 crore for replacing exiting pipelines. Umesh Varma, representative of Joint Action for Water demanded the government to sanction the remaining `10.7 crore to relay new pipelines on a war footing.
“The corporator, MLA and MP from this area have failed to do anything even as thousands of residents are suffering because of the water problem.
Even after many promises, they did not sanction a single rupee for improving water supply.
I have obtained details of developmental works in the locality through the RTI Act. The local MP took up two different works under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) than spending the money to make water supply safe.
No funds were sanctioned for the area from MPLADS, Assembly Constituency Development Programme (ACDP) and even the local corporator failed in urging the GHMC and Water Board authorities to improve water supply,’’ said Samar.
When contacted, Water Board officials said there was no truth in allegations that yellowish water is being supplied even now. ‘’There is no truth and residents are just making noise on the occasion of the second anniversary of the 14 deaths,” said Prabhakar Sharma, director, Technical wing.
–Agencies