Conflict on water to the fore

Thorn fence erected around the stream  in Kumari village 

Drought conditions, steep fall in ground water table and dried up water bodies has created human- animal conflict for drinking water in the district.

Villagers erected thorn fences around the streams to prevent cattle from entering and drinking water in Kumari village in Neredigonda mandal. The same is happening in many villages in the district.

Farmers are erecting a fencing to save their standing crops while people and cattle are struggling for drinking water with the rising temperatures and fast approaching summer. Both animals and people are dependent on these water bodies for drinking water.

Farmer Satish of Kumari village said, “We are facing an acute drinking water problem this summer following the successive droughts and both cattle and people are fighting for drinking water and this is unavoidable situation”.            

On the other hand, water crisis has created differences among the people of neighboring villages Kajjarla and Khodad in Talamadugu mandal on releasing water from the tank to downstream for drinking water purpose.

The tank was located on villager outskirts of Kajjarla and villagers depending on the tank to give water to their standing groundnut crop cultivated in upstream by agriculture motors.

The Kajjarla farmers alleged that villagers of Khodad taking water through ‘Thoomu’ without taking permission from officials concerned. 

Kajjarla villagers refused to release water to downstream from tank while Khodad villagers demand for releasing water for drinking purposes and to save the cattle. People of both the villagers had complained to their respective Tahsildars on the water issue February8.

Cattle too have parched throats

 A farmer helps his cattle have water at roadside borewell   

The drinking water crisis is so acute that not just humans, even animals are facing its brunt. The increasing temperatures coupled with steep fall in the ground water table, has deepened the crisis.

Some villagers are taking their cattle to neighboring villages, where water bodies have not dried up yet, to let their animals drink water. 

There are reports of incidents where villagers have not allowed the cattle of other villages into their village to drink water.In such a situation, farmers are searching for the borewells beside the road side where they can quench the thirst of their cattle.

Farmers are also keeping a vigil on the fodder they are stocking up in their agriculture fields and out sides their house as there is shortage for it. One can see the farmers or their children taking their cattle to the drinking water sources, all along the Adilabad to Utnoor route.

The drinking water crisis is much more severe in tribal areas when compared to other places in the district. People are already experiencing high temperatures and it has already been predicted that the temperatures will be high time summer compared to last year.