In Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB), big kirana stores have been stocking up on drinking water cans that seem to fly off the shelves rather swiftly these days. Water tankers have also become a common sight, indicating a water crisis in the locality.

Scarce supply

Residents of Kakaguda, Jyothi Colony, Balaji Nagar and Vasavi Nagar among other localities, where ground water has depleted, say drinking water is supplied for just an hour every five to six days. Given the scarce supply, they use all vessels at home to store water and are forced to use it conscientiously.

Sitting outside her home with neighbours, E. Seethamma explains how they have been waking up every day at 6 a.m. or even earlier and waited for hours to know if water would be supplied. They have cleared all water bills, so that should not stand as a reason for water shortage, she says.

“We have been experiencing water scarcity since last month. We were told low level of water is the reason,” says K. Bikshapathi, a resident of Balaji Nagar.

Ravi, a resident of Jyothi Colony, points out that water crisis surfaces every summer, and that they have abundant supply for the rest of the year.

SCB chief executive officer S.V.R. Chandra Sekhar said they have been pursuing the issue with Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) for the past few months and that it was resolved two days ago.

Tackling shortfall

SCB residents can expect drinking day supply on alternate days following orders issued by HMWSSB managing director M. Dana Kishore. He said stoppage of water from Manjeera Reservoir and Singur project had led to the problem. While 63 lakh gallons of water are needed for the cantonment area, only 50 lakh gallons are supplied. Mr Dana Kishore said the shortfall will be met by tapping into Krishna and Godavari rivers.