Though the people of the constituency live in the island villages of one of the biggest fresh water lakes in the country—Kolleru lake—they face severe hardships to get potable water.
In the border villages of Kaikalur mandal of Krishna district, people are forced to cross the Upputeru canal on a boat and fetch water from the neighbouring West Godavari district. The problem is a perennial one in island villages like Vadlakadi Tipaa, Pedda Kottada, Penchikalamarru, Alapadu, Kota Lanka, Jangampadu and Chinna Kottada.
Since the water supplied to taps is salty and not fit for consumption, women are forced to fetch water from Siddapuram village in West Godavari. “We have abundant water around us but drinking water is very precious. We have purchase bottled water by parying `10 or `15 for a 20 litre bottle,” A Syamala Rao, a resident of Mandavlli mandal said.
Echoing similar views and concerns, Ramana of Siddapuram village said , “As many as 5,000 people buy water from Akiveedu or Dumpa Gadapa village for `six for a 12 litre can.”
The people of the constituency also face severe inconvenience during transportation as a concrete or iron bridge is missing.
The decades-old demand for the construction of the Kolletikota bridge still lies unfulfilled. The bridge is aimed at connecting about 15 island villages of Kolleru in West Godavari with Kaikalur town. Though `12 crore has been sanctioned, the project remains a non-starter as it awaits clearance from the ministry of forests and environment.
The other issues that could bear an impact on the outcome of the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls is the non-availability of irrigation water and reduction in the size of the Kolleru bird sanctuary.
Sitting MLA: Jayamangala Venkata Ramana
Party: Telugu Desam Party
Votes polled: 50,346
Margin of victory: 974
Runner-up: Kamineni Srinivas
Party: Praja Rajyam Party
Votes polled: 49,373
Total electors:1,83,024
Men: 89,889
Women: 93,135
Poll percentage: 85.96
Total votes polled: 1,57,295
No of contestants: 10
Men: 8
Women: 2
No of polling stations: 214
Avg per polling station:855