Callous GP puts a premium on water here

Their Gram Panchayat (GP) has failed miserably for residents of Chellagurki in the district. Neighbouring state Andhra Pradesh is their saving grace. But the residents are not sure whether the water they get after a 20-km trudge and the Rs 20 they pay for three potfuls is pure enough. But they don’t have a choice.

Water is available in the borewells of the village, but it’s hard water and unfit for drinking.  For 8 years now, Kadadarabenchi in Anantapur district of the neighbouring state has been their sole oasis. The callous attitude of the GP has landed people of Chellagurki in this precarious situation.

Materials required for setting up a pure drinking water unit were supplied to the GP three years ago. But the local body promptly locked them up in the godown of the Yerriswamy Jeevasamadhi Trust in the village and forgot all about it.  Umesh, a resident of Chellagurki, says under these circumstances water for farming is out of question and they will be happy to get drinking water at least.

‘GP has not responded’

Balanagowda, president of the Trust, says that they had asked the GP to shift the materials from the godown of the Trust. But the GP has not responded, Balanagowda said.

Panchayat development officer Praveen Kumar was not available for his comment when Deccan Herald tried to contact him. His mobile phone was switched off. 

S S Nakul, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Ballari Zilla Panchayat, said pure drinking water units were being set up in the district since last year. The officer said that he would look into the matter related to the Chellagurki GP and find out under what grants it had been allocated the water unit. The necessary steps would follow, the CEO said.