Visakhapatnam: Garbage piles up in reservoir

Visakhapatnam: Summer is setting in and the reservoirs assume importance for the port city being animportant source of potable water. However, the maintenance of the Mudasarlova reservoir right in the city is being neglected. The reservoir is still being contaminated with the dumping of waste and construction debris in it. According to the GVMC sources, the reservoir, with 1 million gallons per day (mgd) capacity, caters to thousands of households, including public taps and direct supply to hill-slope areas at Arilova.

Besides, the town service reservoir contributes a major share of the water needs through the pipeline, about 4 MGD of water is drawn from Gosthani and 1 MGD from Gambheeram reservoir. Dumping of concrete debris around the reservoir has become a major concern after the construction activity has taken up in the Health City, near the reservoir.  The civic body is also finding it hard to check the dumping activity.

On a visit to the reservoir, water bottles and other waste were found floating on the water. Though the water is treated before supply, the garbage and concrete would affect the infiltration largely. Some residents staying near the reservoir alleged that people are throwing the waste into the water body unaware of its importance. They also urged the civic body to take some measures to check dumping of wastes.

“The contractors taking up construction works need to be fined for not properly disposing of the debris. Without any action from GVMC, the dumping of debris would not stop. The civic body ends up again spending huge money for desiltation” R. Sandhya, a resident from Arilova said. The GVMC officials have been assuring that they would look into the matter, but to no avail.