ONGOLE: Prakasam district is one of the worst drought-affected districts in Andhra Pradesh and even the members of the inter-ministerial central team led by Dr. B Rajender, that visited the drought-hit areas of the district a couple of days ago, said the situation is severe.
The groundwater in these parts, which are near about 50 percent of the total area in the district, groundwater is being overexploited.
As many as 1.65 lakh farmers have suffered crop losses, which are estimated to be around Rs 1,182 crore,” district collector V Vinay Chand said.
Dairy farmers are facing a shortage of fodder and water for their livestock.
“Most of the villages in our mandal are facing acute water scarcity.
We are afraid in coming days, we may need to use water sparsely and take bath thrice a week,” he said.
According to the district collector, the district registered 30.4 percent of deficit rainfall and water levels in 952 tanks have reduced.
“Water is being supplied to 280 habitations facing drinking water scarcity with the help of 422 tankers every day,” he said.
“We only pray that the situation improves in coming days and the migrations are checked,” Venkateswara Reddy of Markapuram said.
126 – Number of villages where groundwater is overexploited 98,563 MTs Net Fodder Shortage in the district 422 Number of tankers used for the supply of water to 280 habitations.

Some 3,000 families in Likoni constituency, Mombasa County, are set to benefit from fresh water supply once the Likoni Water Supply Works Project is completed.
Likoni residents told the Star on Saturday the project will help “quench our thirst.” Newly appointed Water CS Simon Chelugui toured the area on Friday to inspect the progress of the project.
Yesterday, the Water CS was here to inspect the project and we are being assured that water scarcity in Likoni will soon be a thing of the past,” Evans Momanyi, a youth leader in the region, said.
We are sure this project will serve the entire Likoni population estimated to be over 200,000 people,” he said.
“Water is life and we are happy that the government is committed to ensure Likoni residents and Mombasa at large get access to fresh tapped water,” he said.
Contractors water pipes in Likoni in the Likoni Water Supply Works Project.
He said the Sh542 million projects, which is being undertaken by Suhufi Agencies Limited, is expected to be completed by the end of October this year.
“The ongoing work comprise laying of 52km steel and UPVC pipes and construction of chambers for all meters, valves, air valves, fire hydrants and thrust blocks on bend," Chelugui said.
According to the contractor, Suhufi Agencies Limited, they are already ahead of schedule and they expect to hand it over to the government by the end of August or early September.
The project, which is expected to be handed over October, will actually be handed over by August or thereabout,” Director Siyad Issak told the Star.

THE EDITOR, Sir: There are several priorities for the survival, growth and development of our beloved country, Jamaica.
My opinion is that water security is priority No.
He said 40 days .
With a population of just over 600,000 people living in the Corporate Area, if there is a drought, our water supply would last for less than two months.
Kingston is on the threshold of becoming a fast-growing city, especially as infrastructure development and economic opportunity continue to woo Jamaicans from the countryside.
With the prospect of an increasing population, our present inadequate water supply, and exposure to flooding, climate change and other related hazards, our leaders must act now to secure water security for the present and future generations.
There are several things we should do to prevent a water crisis.
Increase the storage for Kingston, St Andrew and St Catherine, by revisiting the plan to create a facility to receive flows from the Rio Cobre.
Implement a comprehensive Water Security Education Plan, starting in our schools, so that future generations will better appreciate and understand the importance of water security.
We should not be lulled into a false sense of complacency.

JHARSUGUDA: Acute water crisis has gripped Katujor village under Lakhanpur block in the district.
With the lone tube-well in the village going defunct, locals have to depend on ‘Chua’ (pit) to meet their water requirements in the scorching heat.The village comprises three Mouzas – Puranpara, Nuapara and Ankapara – and has a population of more than 1,450.
Sources said the only tube-well in the village stops discharging water in summer due to fall in groundwater level.
Waiting near the ‘Chua’ in long queues for water is a daily affair for the womenfolk of the village.
“We have been facing water crisis during summer for the last 15 years,” said 72-year-old Erabati Oram, a resident of Nuapara.Residents of the three Mouzas alleged that despite several complaints, both written and verbal, to the local MLA, Block Development Officer (BDO) and RWSS authorities, no steps have been taken to provide respite from water scarcity during the dry months.
Contacted, Lakhanpur BDO Gobind Dandsena said he would visit the village soon and resolve the water crisis of the villagers.Meanwhile, villagers have sought intervention of district Collector BB Patnaik in the matter and appealed to him to make immediate arrangement of portable drinking water.

With every passing day, drinking water scarcity is getting more acute in all 21 wards of the municipality having a population of 60,000.
Residents alleged that the water that comes through municipal’s taps in the town gets mixed with sewage water and it cannot be used for cooking or bathing.
Locals have been facing the problem of contaminated drinking water for many years due to wrong laying of sewerage system.
“Kendrapara town needs eight million litres of drinking water daily.
But we are providing 7.17 million litres of water while 3,827 families have water connection.
But around 3,000 have been collecting water by illegally tapping the pipelines.
Around `90 lakh water tax is pending against the residents since long,” said Raman Kumar Dash, Assistant Engineer of Public Health and Engineering Department.
“Out of 7.17 million liters, we are supplying 5.
The Government has recently granted `1.
After digging five deep borewells, the water problem will be solved,” he added.

JAGATSINGHPUR: Acute water scarcity has gripped several coastal villages of Erasama and Balikuda blocks and Kujang area in the district.
With no provision of drinking water, people are forced to consume contaminated water from pits to quench their thirst.The worst hit are 24 villages of Balikuda block and 17 in Erasama.
While the crisis is worsening with rising mercury, people are forced to make long treks to fetch drinking water.
Moreover, tube-wells in many villages are discharging saline water which is not fit for human consumption, sources said.
Besides, many villages which are covered under pipe water scheme are also reeling under water scarcity.
Villagers of Kanaguli and Khurant of Erasama alleged that pipe water projects, though installed two years back, are yet to be completed due to negligence of officials.
Majority of the tube-wells in Kujang, Erasama and Balikuda have dried up.
Left with no option, people are using contaminated water from drying ponds and pits for drinking purposes.
If sources are to believed, negotiations and proposals for marriage in several villages have been cancelled due to the water crisis in Erasama and Balikuda areas.Contacted, RWSS Executive Engineer Chittaranjan Jena said the department is supplying drinking water by tankers to nearly 30 water-starved villages of Kujang and Erasama blocks.
Last year, 170 tube wells were installed while another 500 will be put in place to meet the water needs of people in the current year, he added.

They inspected damaged jowar and groundnut crops in Balayapalli, Savishettipalle, Amagampally villages in Kasinayana mandal and at Rangasamudram village in Porumamilla mandal.
The team also interacted with the MGNREGA workers at the villages and enquired about their problems like drinking water, number of days of work being provided to them, and payment of wages.
Explaining the situation to the members of the central team, district collector T Babu Rao Naidu said crop in 11,400 acres worth Rs 83 crore got damaged due to drought and floods in the district in 2017 rabi season and requested for assistance to the affected areas.
Other farmers also explained the team their problems and appealed for help.
B R Srivastava assured them that they would apprise the Centre of the enormity of drought situation.
Meanwhile, another central team led by Dr B Rajender, which visited Prakasam district, opined that drought in the district was severe.
“Especially, Markapuram and Giddalur regions of western parts of the district, the water scarcity is pronounced.
With depleting groundwater levels, water is being supplied using 422 tankers.
With regard to horticulture crops, the loss was estimated to be Rs 67 crore.
Deficit rainfall in the district only added to the woes of the farmers.

The International Alliance "Chrysotile" declares that there are capabilities and technical solutions that can be applied to solve a range of problems related to the safe transportation of water resources.
The use of durable and safe chrysotile-containing pipes makes it possible in a short period of time to create an effective system of water supply and drainage.
A recent example can be found in the amendments to the "Directive on protection of workers against risks associated with exposure to carcinogens and mutagens at work".
According to the new regulations, substances such as chromium VI compounds, wood dust and vinyl chloride, classified by the International Agency for Cancer Research as carcinogens of the first group, are permissible for use at work.
Chromium VI, also mentioned in this document as a recognized mutagen and carcinogen (p. 213), is still a major element of environmental pollution in industrialized areas, and can provoke serious illnesses.
Reference to page 171 of the aforementioned document of the WHO, second edition of "Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality Analysis", includes the – relevant yet ignored – conclusion of a specialized commission which states that chrysotile asbestos pipes are considered absolutely safe for the supply of drinking.
Scientists write that "there is no consistent, convincing evidence that the asbestos consumed (together with food or drinking water) is dangerous for human health" and therefore do not see the need to establish a maximum permissible threshold of asbestos fibers content in drinking water.
Moreover, a highly relevant study was published following the July 1996 meeting of the International Programme on Chemical Safety, as well as additional studies conducted by scientists of the WHO and Specialists of the International Labour Organization.
The International Alliance "Chrysotile" considers it necessary to eliminate double standards in relation to chrysotile asbestos in EU countries and to allow its safe and regulated use.
Such a solution would help effectively solve many of the problems of water supply and create a foundation for the safe and comfortable development of all the countries of the world, preventing the death of people from water scarcity and diseases associated with its pollution.

Acute water scarcity in coastal villages of Kujang , Erasama and Balikuda areas has made life miserable for people.
The acute water scarcity hits villages~ Borikina, Rahan, Titira, Khalgaon,Opandara, Osakan, Marichpur, Talgaon, Badadia,Balabhadrapur, Kusupur, Bandar, Anantpur, Naharana, Dasbatia, Tertang, Olavar, Allikana,Dua, Ambasala, Apandara, Nenedra, Nanadabedi, Amarpal of Balikuda block and Bhajakhia, Patua, Suakunda, Ghasua, Patharkanda, Salio, Saharkanda, Kadalibari, Padmapur, Gadharishpur, Nardia, Paida, Jerailo, Kunjkothi, Khurant, Kalikuda and Belari other villages of Erasama block are suffering from acute water crisis.
People in certain areas have to travel up to 2 to 3kms to fetch water for their drinking and domestic needs.
Tube wells in several villages remain unused due to increased salinity in the water.Villages said to be covered under pipe water schemes are also facing water shortage as the pumps are dysfunctional complained villagers.
People of Kanaguli, Khurant of Ersama block and others have expressed that pipe water schemes have been installed since two years but these projects have not yet completed due to negligence of officials and fund crunch in which women folk have to travel up to 3 kms to fetch water for drinking water purposes.
Water bodies and wells have dried up.Supply of drinking water by the PHD and RWSS Departments by tankers is irregular and inadequate.
Executive Engineer, RWSS Mr Chittaranjan Jena said the department has been providing water by tankers to 30 villages of Kujang and Erasama blocks.
Last year, out of 190, 170 tube wells have been installed while another 500 tube wells will be installed in current financial year to meet water scarcity, he said.

Brazilian Army logistics battalions in the state of Rio Grande do Sul supply populations suffering from drought in the far south of Brazil.
Operations from the Brazilian Army (EB, in Portuguese) are vital to thousands of residents in cities suffering the effects of the worst drought in recent years in southern Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state.
The battalion is one of the arms EB extends since February 2018 to assist the state’s Civil Defense agency in mitigating the problems the drought created.
We then did some ground reconnaissance on Monday, and, by Tuesday, our troops were already headed there, trucking water by road to cater to families,” Lt. Col. Jetson explained.
The 4th BLog operated from February until March 27th, bringing water to residents in nearly 20 rural parts of Caçapava do Sul.
They filled up the battalion’s two water trucks—one with an 18,000-liter capacity and the other holding 15,000 liters of water—at reservoirs of the Rio Grande Sanitation Company supplied.
Authorities conduct the rationing12 hours a day, but EB’s helping hand is present throughout the region.
“Whenever there’s a crisis, such as with water scarcity, we have prior authorization to act,” Maj. Gen. Vendramin explained, adding that the force also operates in floods.
Maj. Gen. Vendramin said EB’s water trucks cover up to 60 kilometers in one day.
That’s why this service agency is essential.