Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders on Friday demanded daily drinking water supply to residents of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation’s (GVMC) 22nd ward. The party organised a protest at Shivajipalem Junction, seeking at least an hour of tap water supply every day.

CPI(M) former GVMC floor leader B. Gangarao alleged that the coalition government was planning to supply water to data centres and the Nakkapalli steel plant while residents were struggling for drinking water.

Mr. Gangarao said residents of Pithapuram Colony, Shivajipalem, Mangapuram Colony, Netajinagar, Peetalavanipalem and Balaram Nagar were depending on municipal taps after borewells dried up. He alleged that the water supply was inadequate and that leakages were not being addressed.

The CPI(M) warned of a protest outside the municipal office if the problem was not resolved.