Amaravati: The World Bank aided drinking water supply scheme to quench the thirst of the people of the Guntur city by supplying water on daily basis failed to materialise despite having funds.
The Guntur Municipal Corporation started the Comprehensive Water Supply Scheme with Rs 460 crore World Bank funds to supply round-the-clock drinking water.
The scheme was targeted to be completed by February 2015, but it was extended to August 31, 2016. The works are yet to be completed.
The GMC, which is having 25 reservoirs with a capacity to store 29,000 kiloliters of water, is going to set up 18 more big reservoirs with a capacity to store another 30,000 kiloliters of water.
All the areas in Guntur city are facing drinking water shortage and a majority of the areas are getting water once in two days. The government promised supply of water on daily basis following the model of Vijayawada Municipal Corporation which offers water twice a day, but in vain.
The installation of water pipelines beneath of railway lines and highways became a major hurdle for the completion of WB water supply project. Guntur MP Galla Jayadev also started Jalanidhi scheme to supply drinking water to colonies through tankers in view of the water shortage in the city.
According to the GMC, permission is required from the railways for laying pipelines under the track at Kolanukonda, Nandivelugu, Nehru Nag-ar and near Brodipet and another permission from NHAI for laying pipeline under the highway near Manasa Sarovaram Park.
The People of Navabharathnagar, Balaji Colony, Gorantla and other areas, S.A. Subhani and others lamented that the legislators and the GMC officials several times had promised to supply drinking water at their doorsteps on daily basis during the past three years but the project is yet to materialise. They said that the GMC is suppling water only for 30 minutes to one hour once in two days and they are forced to buy drinking water.
They sought water connections to every house by completing the WB project.
GMC incharge commissioner R. Krishna Kapardhi said that the WB water scheme would be completed by December 31 and Guntur people can get water supply from the New Year.
