VISAKHAPATNAM: Opposition parties, NGOs and rights groups have demanded that water for drinking and irrigation should get priority and no diversion should take place for industrial use. The issue assumes significance in view of the decision to supply water to the proposed alumina refinery near S. Kota by the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation.

At a workshop organised by Vizag Journalists' Forum, R.V. Rama Rao, member of Technical Advisory Group of Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission, said that with the city population growing, new sources of water should be explored for augmenting supply to the city.

Yeleru canal had a capacity to carry another 10 tmc and it should be utilised by creating another pipeline for which industry should bear the cost. An additional reservoir should be created from Yeleru canal that has 4 km. common with Polavaram canal. The Godavari water should not be linked to industrial use. Additional capacity should be created by tapping the potential of the Sarada river, bringing Jhanjhavati water to Tatipudi and utilising the gedda systems were among the measures he suggested. The Government should keep its promise of restoring the agricultural rights of Raiwada farmers once the Godavari project was completed, he said.

Chodavaram MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao recalled that after launching work on modernisation of Raiwada, it was dedicated to farmers. At a meeting later, the Chief Minister was under pressure while answering the issue raised by the Opposition. At that time, it was stated that till Godavari water was available, it would be utilised. "Now we are firm that Raiwada water should be given to farmers and we will go to any extent to achieve it," he said.

Former Union Energy secretary E.A.S. Sarma wanted a long-term assessment of land and water needs and utilisation. Noted engineering consultant S. Gopala Sastry said the Meghadrigedda and Mudasarlova should be de-silted. As a part of the airport de-flooding, small reservoirs should be taken up to utilise the water.

Human Rights Forum convener V.S. Krishna was for just distribution of water without resorting to destruction of environment. Samata executive director Ravi Rebbapragada said that while the current 40 million gallons per day had a 35 per cent deficit, yet eight million gallons per day was proposed for diversion. CPI district secretary J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy accused GVMC of only concentrating on increasing revenue and wondered how water could be given to the Jindal plant without a resolution in the corporation. CPI(M)'s V.S. Padmanabha Raju expressed the apprehension that selling water to the Jindal plant would prove to be a burden on people of the city. BJP's Ch. Ramakotayya wanted an officer to be appointed exclusively to deal with water related issues in view of the complexity. M. Lakshmi of Jagruthi said slums were languishing without water and the Jindal plant should not be taken up going by the public opinion. S.S. Siva Sankar and M.Yugandhar Reddy, president and secretary of VJF, spoke.

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