Facing shortage, Molakalmuru residents forced to rely on water from Andhra border town

CHITRADURGA: The district is facing an acute shortage of drinking water, forcing people in Molakalmuru to depend on water tankers from Andhra Pradesh. Compounding the problem, the reverse osmosis (RO) plants across the taluk are non-functional, but the town and zilla panchayats have not bothered to act.

A can of water costs Rs 25 and a pot costs Rs 10.

Residents of Molakalmuru are buying cans of water for Rs 15 each while a pot of water is being sold for Rs 10 through bowsers which are coming from Andhra Pradesh. Private tanker operators are cashing in on the water scarcity and bringing water from Rayadurga, which is about 15 km away from Molakalmuru.

The officials, who were supposed to make preparations for dealing with water shortage, have turned a blind eye, leaving citizens literally high and dry. The residents have blamed the district officials for the prevailing situation.

Basavareddy and Lakshmana Murthy.

Basavareddy, a farmer, said, “There is an acute scarcity of drinking water in the town and the RO plants are not working, but none of the officials have bothered to act. We have to depend on water from Rayadurga and are forced to spend Rs 100-200 every day for water”.

Lakshman Murthy, who operates a bowser, said he brings about 4-5 tankers of water from Rayadurga every day and supplies water to houses and offices.