Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Sunitha Seeks Emergency Water Aid for Drought-Hit Anantapur
Anantapur district is facing a serious shortage of drinking water.
MLA Paritala Sunitha said the drought was made worse by the El Niño phenomenon.
She asked the government to give each mandal ₹1 crore for emergency water work.
She also requested more water tankers and water for local irrigation tanks.
Many borewells are dry, even when drilled very deep.
Sunitha praised welfare programs that gave money to mothers and farmers in Raptadu.
She said free bus travel for women has made buses very crowded.
She asked the Transport Department to add buses and hire more staff.
Raptadu MLA Paritala Sunitha raised Anantapur’s severe drought and drinking-water crisis during Zero Hour in the Legislative Assembly.
She sought ₹1 crore per mandal, additional water tankers, and the release of at least 30% of Handri-Neeva water into local irrigation tanks.
Sunitha said groundwater levels had fallen sharply, with borewells reportedly dry even at depths of 1,000 feet.
She cited welfare distributions in Raptadu, including ₹52 crore for 40,000 mothers and ₹136 crore for 51,000 farmers.
She also urged more buses, drivers, and conductors to address overcrowding linked to the Stree Shakti free bus travel initiative.
- Who
- Raptadu MLA Paritala Sunitha and the Andhra Pradesh state government.
- What
- Sunitha sought emergency measures for drinking-water shortages, groundwater depletion, unfinished public buildings, welfare implementation, and overcrowded buses.
- When
- During Zero Hour in the Legislative Assembly and a short discussion on the Super Six welfare initiatives.
- Where
- Anantapur district, especially Raptadu constituency and Anantapur Rural mandal, in Andhra Pradesh.
- Why
- The district is experiencing acute drought and water shortages attributed in the article to the El Niño phenomenon; bus overcrowding is linked to the Stree Shakti free travel initiative.
- Requested emergency funding
- ₹1 crore per mandal to address severe drinking-water shortages.
- Groundwater conditions
- Borewells were reported dry at depths of up to 1,000 feet.
- Anantapur Rural population reference
- The mandal has more than 70,000 voters, according to Sunitha.
- Water supply request
- Release at least 30% capacity into local irrigation tanks through the Handri-Neeva project.
- Talliki Vandanam
- ₹52 crore reportedly reached 40,000 mothers in Raptadu.
- Annadatha Sukhibhava
- ₹136 crore was reportedly distributed to 51,000 local farmers.
- Bus overcrowding
- Buses were reported to carry 60 to 80 passengers per trip.