Take steps to address water scarcity, CS tells collectors

Vijayawada: Chief secretary K Vijayanand has instructed the district collectors to take all necessary measures to prevent drinking water scarcity anywhere in the state during the current summer. He reviewed the situation with the district collectors through a video conference on Thursday.
Vijayanand asked the district collectors to be proactive in responding to the grievances about drinking water in their respective districts.
"Our initial reports suggest that 3,438 habitations in 332 mandals in the state are likely to face water scarcity during the summer. We have granted Rs 67.3 crore to take up immediate relief measures," he said.
Since IMD had already sent reports that the hot weather conditions, and hot winds are likely to prevail in various parts of the state in the coming days, CS Vijayanand advised the collectors to be prepared to tackle the situation.
He directed that drinking water needs of the people should be met by supplying water through tankers in drought-affected zones and by taking private drinking water sources on lease basis where necessary. He also directed that efforts should be made to solve the drinking water problem by rehabilitating and repairing temporary water supply systems, filling drinking water tanks with water, and repairing hand pumps.
The chief secretary directed that special monitoring cells be set up at state and district levels to receive complaints on drinking water issues, respond to them in a timely manner, and resolve them immediately. He asked that complaints regarding drinking water received through the public grievance redressal system (PGRS), various media units, drought monitoring cell, and contact centre toll-free number -1902 should be addressed immediately.
CS Vijayanand said that all summer storage tanks in urban areas should be filled with water in coordination with the water resources department. He suggested that measures like flushing and deepening bore wells should be taken in areas dependent on groundwater. He said that immediate repairs should be carried out on hand pumps and power bores and that they should be made to function properly. At the same time, he ordered that all fresh water distribution lines and pumping mains should be completely inspected and water leakages should be prevented, and that generators should be made available on stands so that water supply does not suffer in case of power outages.
Principal secretary GAD Mukesh Kumar Meena, MD APIIC, director Industries department Abhishikth Kishore, MD Swachhandra Corporation Anil Kumar Reddy were also present.