Amidst drought, the delay in the monsoon has aggravated the drinking water crisis in Bagepalli taluk.
There are 405 tanks in these villages, out of which 373 small tanks are in zilla panchayat limits, 32 tanks with covering area between 40 acres and 140 acres are under the Minor Irrigation Department and tanks with an area of less than 40 acres are under the technical department of the zilla panchayat.
There are 24 gram panchayats in the taluk, out of which there is acute drinking water crisis in more than 15 gram panchayats because the borewells have dried up.
Villages in drought
Ghantavaripalli grama panchayat: Yetigaddapalli, Puttaparthi, Makireddypalli, Devaraguddipalli, Yelampalli, Pakpatlapalli, Achepalli colony, Lagumaddepalli, Yelampali, Ivarapalli, Mittemari-Putlavaripalli, Chokampalli, Jiganapalli, Chinnaobayagaripalli, Kanagamakapalli-Arigepalli, Kuthakote-Madakavaripalli, Pesalaparthi, Madrahalli, Gorthapalli- D Kothapalli, Billoor-Yegavamiddalu, Boyipalli, Ugranampalli, Babenayakanapalli, Naremaddepalli-Kurumbalapalli, Doddivaripalli, Pulagal-Seethareddypalli, Nallagutlapalli, Palyakere-Peddarajapalli, Chelur-Byrappanahalli, Thimmanapalli-Brahmarahalli, Guttapalya, Mulangichetlapalli, Niravulapalli, Doranalapalli
Borewells, handpumps
There are more than 409 handpumps and 367 borewells in 24 gram panchayats of the village. Only 42 borewells and 34 handpumps remain functional in these villages.
There are 50 pipelines connecting 24 gram panchayats and 300 mini drinking water supply centres. The shortage of water supply units in these areas has left the villagers hapless. Already, there is a shortage of fodder along with which the farmers have to struggle to meet the drinking water needs for domestic animals.
No connection
Borewells have been dug at a few places but pumpsets have not been fitted and power connections have also not been provided. There have also been speculations about bias in the supply of water.
Sources have revealed that the gram panchayat president and a few influential people favour a few areas to supply water.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, a resident Girijamma said that inspite of borewells being dug five months ago there have been no traces of water supply. Several protests in front of the gram panchayats have yielded no progress.
Government should take steps to take alternative measures in the wake of delayed monsoon, she added.