Vijayawada: In a major relief to the residents of A Konduru mandal in NTR district, especially those affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD), the long-awaited 50 crore drinking water project under the Jal Jeevan Mission is nearing completion. The pipeline project, which draws water from the Krishna River, is set to provide safe drinking water to 38 villages across the mandal.A Konduru has been battling a CKD crisis for years, largely due to high levels of silica in the local groundwater. Between 2018 and 2022, 28 people died of renal failure in the region. In 2023 alone, medical screenings identified 414 CKD patients, sparking renewed demands from locals for access to clean drinking water.Responding to this health crisis, state govt launched an ambitious project to provide piped water to every household. NTR district collector Dr G Lakshmisha stated that the majority of trunk pipeline works were completed and the laying of distributary pipelines is progressing rapidly.“By March 2025, 50% of the works were completed, providing water access to nearly 45,000 residents. The remaining households will be covered by June,” Dr Lakshmisha confirmed.To support this effort, govt is constructing 14 new overhead water tanks in addition to 38 existing tanks, ensuring sufficient storage and supply. A 200-km pipeline network is being laid to connect every household in the affected villages. The project is seen as a permanent solution to the CKD crisis by reducing dependency on contaminated groundwater. The date for the formal inauguration will be announced soon.
