YSRCP Stages Protest in Visakhapatnam Over Drinking Water Shortage
Visakhapatnam: The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) held a protest in the One Town area on [day] over the ongoing drinking water crisis in the city. Led by former MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar, the demonstration saw many women carrying empty vessels and raising slogans against the NDA government, highlighting the hardships faced by residents due to the irregular water supply.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Kumar alleged that the government had failed to ensure adequate and regular water supply to residents. He said the authorities had not made proper arrangements to meet the city's growing water requirements. He claimed that several establishments, including hospitals and prominent hotels, had been affected by the shortage, and that residents in many parts were receiving water only once every two days. In some areas, people were reportedly receiving muddy and contaminated water, he added.
The former MLA also accused the government of spending large amounts on publicity-oriented programmes while neglecting basic urban infrastructure. He suggested that investing these funds in strengthening Visakhapatnam's water and civic infrastructure could bring significant improvement. He questioned how the government could plan to supply water to the upcoming data centre when it was unable to meet the city's current demand.
Mr. Kumar further noted that water levels in several reservoirs had dipped and groundwater levels were also low. He warned that if such a situation persisted even before the data centre became fully operational, the city's water security could face a much more serious crisis in the future.
The protest comes amid reports of severe water scarcity in various parts of Visakhapatnam. Residents have been demanding a reliable and clean supply of drinking water. The YSRCP, which is the main opposition party in Andhra Pradesh, has been critical of the NDA government's handling of basic services.
Attempts to get a response from government officials regarding the allegations were unsuccessful. The district administration has not yet issued any statement on the matter.
