Daijiworld Media Network – Byndoor(SS)

Byndoor, Apr 19: Villagers of Koderi 5th ward in Kirimanjeshwara village are suffering from lack of drinking water for the last 25 years. It is for this reason that the villagers have decided to stay away from casting their votes in the upcoming Assembly elections. The situation of the village and its inhabitants is pathetic as presently all the villagers have to walk at least 1.5 km to fetch water for their daily needs.

There are 170 houses with a population of 1500 people in the 5th ward of the Koderi village under the Kirimanjeshwara GP. A majority of them are dependent on water from the taps at their homes. About 60 houses are struggling to get water supplied to their homes for the last 25 years and the situation hasn't changed one wee bit.

Despite the election fever gripping all the areas, people of this village seemed to have no interest in elections. All that the women want is water which they feel should be made available through taps to their homes.

Every year, villagers face shortage of drinking water from February right up to the onset of the monsoon. They get water once every three days. Villagers also complain that water that is supplied in the morning does not reach their homes even in the evening. There is a well situated about 2 km near Themakayyanamane where a water source is available. There is a water tank about a kilometre away as well. Though water is released and supplied to the villagers at least 60 houses do not get water. Authorities have turned a blind eye to the water that is going a waste beneath the water tank, villagers allege.

Villagers apprised deputy commissioner Kurma Rao who was on a village stay programme and submitted a request to him to look into the water problems faced by them. The DC had assured them immediately that water would be supplied immediately. However, villagers say that the problems pertaining to water supply have remained on paper and in the official files.

It has come to be noted that a few houses in the village draw water from other sources besides getting their share of water from the tank. When such instances were brought to the notice of the officials demanding action to be taken, no action was initiated, the villagers charged.

In the gram sabha meetings, officials make note of the problems but do not take any action to solve the problems and they do not visit the villages either, villagers allege.

Water pipelines are ready for use under the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme. However, there is no clarity about when water would be made available. Officials say under the scheme GP cannot supply water from the tanks using their resources. However, complaints have fallen on deaf ears of the officials who say that there are no grants available to solve the water supply woes. Villagers are clear about boycotting the forthcoming elections as the officials are unable to provide them drinking water.