VIJAYAWADA: After decades of distress caused by contaminated groundwater and rising kidney ailments, residents of A. Konduru mandal in Tiruvuru constituency is set to receive a permanent drinking water solution.
Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, a Rs 49.4 crore Krishna Water Supply Project actively pursued by MP Kesineni Sivanath has reached its final stage and is scheduled for inauguration in March.
The project will provide treated drinking water drawn from the Krishna River to 38 affected habitations in A. Konduru mandal. A total population of 56,481 across these villages will benefit from 100% Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs), ensuring a safe water supply directly to homes.
Under the scheme, 43 old Over Head Service Reservoirs (OHSRs) have been repaired and strengthened, and 12 new OHSRs constructed, bringing the total to 55 functional tanks. Filtered water from Ibrahimpatnam VTPS Canal will be treated and pumped to Kudapa sump, from where it will be distributed to Vissannapeta, Gampalagudem, and all 38 villages in A. Konduru mandal.
The network of pipelines has been completed, enabling simultaneous supply to all beneficiary villages. The project ensures sustainable storage capacity aligned with projected population demand and the 55 LPCD (Litres Per Capita Per Day) standard.
It should be noted that, for years, A. Konduru mandal has reported a high prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), largely attributed by health officials and local surveys to prolonged consumption of fluoride- and mineral-contaminated groundwater.
According to medical records and rural health assessments, over 460 kidney-related cases have been identified in the mandal in the past decade, with more than 60 reported deaths linked to renal complications. Several villages were dependent on borewells with high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and mineral contamination.
In the absence of alternative sources, residents consumed unsafe groundwater, leading to mounting health concerns and financial hardship for families. Notably, though sanctioned in 2023, the project saw slow progress initially.
After the NDA government assumed office, MP Kesineni Sivanath intensified monitoring, holding frequent review meetings with Rural Water Supply (RWS) officials.
The 38 villages set to receive Krishna water include Kummarinkunta, Patha Repudi, Kotha Repudi, East Madhavaram, West Madhavaram, Metta Thanda, Repudi Thanda, Krishnaravupalem, Mansing Thanda, Kesya Thanda, Pedda Thanda, Chaitanya Nagar, Cheemalapadu, Venkata Thanda, Lakshmipuram, Deepala Nagar, Karunapuram, Konduru Thanda, A Konduru, Patha Konduru, Atlapragada, Gollamandala, Gollamandala Thanda, Ramachandrapuram, Khambampadu, Koduru, Marepalli, Gunachintalapadu, Polisettipadu, Komatikunta, Gopalapuram, Vallampatla, Kothuru, Harijanawada, Vaddera Bazaar, Jeelakunta, Reddy Bazaar and Janalagadda.
Khambampadu, A. Konduru, Gollamandala and Polisettipadu are among the most populous villages expected to see substantial benefit.
Officials confirm that arrangements are underway to inaugurate the project in March. Either Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu or Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan is expected to launch the scheme.
“We have successfully completed a trial run recently. During this process, we found that water could not reach three tail-end hamlets, so we are redesigning the network. The works will be completed by March,” said A Rama Krishna, Superintending Engineer (SE) RWS, NTR District, to TNIE.