The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Water crisis as reservoirs dry up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Water crisis as reservoirs dry up

B. Madhu Gopal

Gosthani level reaches the bottom ruling out diversion of its flow

MATTER OF CONCERN: The dried-up Mudasorlova reservoir in Visakhapatnam. The water level in this reservoir on this day last year was 160.8 feet. Photo: K. R. Deepak

VISAKHAPATNAM: At a time when Vizagites are eagerly looking forward to round-the-clock supply of drinking water, they are forced to bear with the supply of water on alternate days due to the drying up of two reservoirs and the Gosthani.

The water from the Gosthani infiltration plant was used to augment supply to the city, whenever there was an emergency.

This year the water level in the Gosthani has reached the bottom-most level ruling out the possibility of diversion of water.

The city requires 56 million gallons daily (mgd) to meet both its domestic and industrial needs. It gets 37 mgd from all the available sources.

Even if all the sources are fully tapped, there would still be a deficit of 19 mgd.

The Godavari Water Supply scheme which envisages 24-hour supply to the city, is in advanced stage of completion. It was scheduled for completion in May last year but was unduly delayed. Once the project is completed it would supply 43 mgd and is estimated to take care of the drinking water needs of the city till 2020.

The water level in the Mudasorlova reservoir, which was 160.8 feet on this day (June 29) last year, is completely dry today.

The Gambeeramgedda reservoir, however, was dry on this day last year also.

The delay in the onset of the south-west monsoon and lack of rain have caused a severe water crisis, forcing the Municipal Corporation to resort to alternate drinking water supply to a number of wards in the city from Wednesday.

``Apart from the reservoirs which have dried up, the water levels in the other four reservoirs that supply drinking water to the city is much below normal,'' the MCV Executive Engineer (water works), P. Panduranga Rao, told The Hindu on Wednesday.

The water level in Meghadrigedda reservoir today is 50.6 feet as against 55.8 ft. on this day last year. The level at Thatipudi is 275.2 feet (last year 287 feet) and Raiwada is 104 metres (last year 109.85 metres).

``We are trying to divert water from Raiwada and Town Service Reservoir to augment the supply. About 120 additional water tankers have been pressed into service and the leaking pipelines have been repaired to arrest wastage of water,'' Mr. Panduranga Rao said.

One can only hope that the efforts of the VMC do not go waste.

Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has demanded supply of drinking water every day.

The party's city committee secretary, K. Lokanadham, said that it was unfortunate that the officials who had announced there was no shortage of drinking water were resorting to supply on alternate days. He demanded that the officials think of alternative measures for uninterrupted supply of water.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News Update

Stories in this Section

Neera comes to rescue of toddy-tappers

Water crisis as reservoirs dry up

BHPV board to discuss revival plan today

Helping polio patients

Club claims ownership of land

I've got the power

Naxal surrenders

Around the City

In Visakhapatnam Today