Andhra Pradesh is reeling under an acute water crisis. Apart from its capital Hyderabad, 53 municipalities in the state are facing drinking water shortage, reveals a survey conducted by the municipal administration department. The worst hit areas are Ongole, Sattenapalli, Chilkaluripeta, Chittoor, Bhongir, Nalgonda and Guntakal.

Alive to the magnitude of the problem, the department has chalked out an action plan to augment water supply to the affected civic localities by sinking and repairing borewells. The construction of percolation tanks and check dams is also in the pipeline. For Hyderabad city, the state government has drawn up a special contingency plan. It has also constituted a high-level panel to monitor drinking water supply in the entire state, reveals minister for municipal administration B V Mohan Reddy.