Construction is underway for the world’s largest integrated renewable energy project in Andhra Pradesh on one hand, but the local residents of the region are struggling even for the most basic necessities on the other. The government officials and experts have shown great enthusiasm for the project as it is expected to make Andhra Pradesh a shining example of sustainable development for the rest of the country. After all, development of a state contributes to the overall progress of the nation. However, the residents, especially women, of the village where this project is being implemented are encountering numerous challenges in their day to day lives. As the project continues to gain recognition on the world stage, the predicament of the villagers remains unchanged.
What is the issue?
Pinnapuram village is a part of the Greenko project’s construction zone. Situated on a hill along the Kurnool-Nandyala National Highway, the village sits atop a climb of 5-6 km. A well-maintained road leads to the village but while ascending the hill, all one sees are rocks and boulders strewn across the uneven terrain. During the rainy season, the two waterfalls on this hill are a breathtaking sight to behold, but on other days the water flow is meagre. The mesmerising view of the lush green fields and the national highway from the hilltop turns dire as soon as one’s attention turns to the village.
Recently, the South One team had visited Pinnapuram and were left appalled by what they witnessed. Concerns around sanitation due to a lack of toilets have forced the village women to build makeshift latrines for themselves. The latrines are nothing but walls made of piled-up stones on all four sides without roofs and doors. They may provide a little privacy to the women but are highly unsanitary and foul-smelling. The situation goes from bad to worse during the rainy season making the latrines even harder to use.
Why is there a problem?
The main hurdle to the construction of toilets in Pinnapuram village is the rocky soil which increases the cost of digging pits. Most villagers cannot afford to bear such an expense. While men resort to defecating in uninhabited areas outside the village, women find it difficult to venture that far because of safety concerns. Therefore, the bare bones latrines are the only solution. The team came across two such structures in the middle of the houses, adjacent to the walkway.
What do the local residents say?
The women are reluctant to discuss the issue as they fear upsetting the local political leaders by talking to the media. Eventually the team managed to speak to two women. One of them said, “I have been married for 22 years and this issue was prevalent in our village even before I moved here. The women’s latrines in our village are built with stone walls and there are just three of them. It is extremely embarrassing to enter the latrine with a jug of water while being watched by men. The situation becomes unbearable when it rains. No bleaching powder or cleaning product is available to maintain hygiene due to which we fall ill. Sometimes, the walls collapse due to strong winds and we have to build them again by piling up the stones.”
“In the past, the local leaders promised to provide funds for building toilets in every house. However, when we raised concerns about the feasibility of digging holes for construction, they evaded answering and simply said it will be looked into at some point. As a result, only a few households in the village having the financial means have toilets while the other 95 percent don’t have access to this basic necessity. Unfortunately, both the local leaders and the government have chosen to ignore this pressing issue,” she added.
When South One reached out to Greenko to highlight the issue, they did not seem to be moved by plight of the villagers. It can be said that the chances of this issue being resolved anytime soon are slim. Being a village on a hill, Pinnapuram is often thought to be a happy place with pleasant weather. However, a visit to the village puts forth a shockingly different reality.
