Rs 259 Crore Project Announced for Water-Deficient North Vizag

Visakhapatnam: Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has proposed a Rs 259 crore project to augment drinking water supply to localities in northern parts of the city, including Madhurawada, which face a perennial shortage.

Disclosing this on Wednesday, GVMC commissioner Dr P. Sampath Kumar said the project has received approval from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana.

Dr Sampath Kumar revealed that they have approached the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank affiliate, to secure funding for the first phase of the drinking water project.

Interacting with media at the GVMC headquarters, he explained that Visakhapatnam receives 400 million litres per day (MLD) of water, while the actual requirement is 463 MLD. Yeleru Canal supplies 68 per cent of the water, while the remaining amount comes from sources like Gosthani and other projects.

The commissioner said all the city’s water pumping stations are located in the southern region, while areas like Madhurawada on the northern side, which have witnessed rapid development, face challenges, as water has to be pumped multiple times.

To address this issue, GVMC has proposed a new cost-effective project under which water will be pumped from Kanithi Balancing Reservoir (KBR) to Narava Hill, covering a distance of 10 kilometres. From there, water will flow by gravity to Mudasarlova Lake, covering an additional 15 kilometres. This gravity-based system will reduce dependency on pumping and ensure adequate water supply to Madhurawada and other regions.

Dr Sampath Kumar said, "This initiative will help bridge the city's water deficit and ensure equitable distribution of water throughout Visakhapatnam. Further, apart from meeting the current demand, the project will support the city's future water needs.”

The commissioner underlined that the new project will be a better option. "While there are additional reserves of water in Yeleru Canal, pumping additional water will cost around Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,300 crore annually. Instead, pumping water from KBR and then supplying it by gravity to northern parts of the city is a cost-effective plan,” he pointed out.