Airport neighbours stare at water crisis

HYDERABAD: Areas such as New Baba Nagar connected to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport through the Srisailam highway have seen an impressive appreciation of real estate prices over the last few years. The prosperity the new airport has brought about, however, does not reflect in the civic amenities here. Residents say that even after 15 years, the area has no water connection, drainage lines and roads.
In what they describe as 'an act of tokenism', the authorities had dug just one borewell to cater to the entire area; a water tank, they say, remains a far cry. Now, with the borewell drying up and the scorching heat beating down their necks, they are forced to go without water for days. Mohammed Maqbool from Street No. 7 of New Baba Nagar says that it is impossible for a family of six to live on just two buckets of water a day.
While laying of underground water pipelines began in January, work is still incomplete. Residents of the area say that they are tired of requesting officials to address their problems. President of New Baba Nagar Welfare Association, Syed Salam-ur-Rahman says, "Sarpanch Narsimha Reddy had visited the area before elections more than three and a half years ago but we haven't seen his face ever since. The authorities only promise but do not deliver."