Vijayawada: In a novel experiment, the Andhra Pradesh government has set up a 1904 Call Centre to swiftly address complaints related to drinking water supply. This step is aimed at ensuring that there is no drinking water shortage anywhere in the State during the forthcoming summer season.

Neighbouring Karnataka is grappling with a severe water crisis, as evidenced by recent developments in Bengaluru. Dry borewells and a shortage of tankers have plagued the city, coming on the heels of the state's declaration of 223 taluks as drought-hit nearly six months ago. With the monsoon still over two months away, concerns loom large as water levels in Karnataka’s 23 reservoirs stand at 131 tmcft as of March 15—56 tmcft lower than the previous year.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary KS Jawahar Reddy has issued directives to officials to execute a summer action plan, backed by an allocation of Rs 115 crore, to guarantee uninterrupted drinking water supply until the end of June.

During a meeting with officials from the Panchayat Raj, Rural Water Supply, and Municipal Water Supply departments at the State Secretariat in Vijayawada, the Chief Secretary highlighted the urgency of completing pending drinking water schemes and prioritizing maintenance and repair tasks, including borewells and storage tanks. Coordinated efforts, coupled with swift responses to complaints through the 1904 Call Centre, are crucial components of this comprehensive strategy.

Holding a meeting with the officials of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Rural Water Supply and Municipal Water Supply departments at the State Secretariat, the Chief Secretary took stock of the drinking water supply in rural and urban areas. The officials have been asked to complete the pending drinking water schemes on a war-footing. "Steps should be taken to fill all the summer storage tanks with water, besides laying emphasis on maintenance of drinking water schemes. Repairs of borewells should also be taken up on a priority basis," he said.

Directing the officials to swiftly respond to the complaints with regard to drinking water supply through the 1904 Call Centre, he said coordinated efforts should be made to ensure that there is no drinking water shortage anywhere in the State in the ensuing summer.

Principal Secretary (Panchayat Raj and Rural Development) Shashi Bhushan Kumar said private borewells will be taken on rent as part of the summer contingency plan, besides focusing on filling storage tanks and repairing borewells to augment water supply.

A plan has been drawn well in advance to supply drinking water through tankers to 1,354 parched habitations till June. Supply of water through tankers to 109 habitations has already been taken up, he said.

Participating in the meeting through a video conference, Commissioner (Municipal Administration and Urban Development) Lathkar Shrikesh Balajirao said drinking water is being supplied once in a day in 47 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), twice in a day in 29 ULBs and once in two days in 43 ULBs. Drinking water is being supplied once in three days in Kadapa, Penukonda, Ongole and Hindupur ULBs. Steps are being taken to augment water supply in the four ULBs, the Commissioner added. Special Chief Secretary (Finance) SS Rawat and other senior officials attended the review meeting. /BI