MCT draws up plan to tap rainwater at SVU

Tirupati: To involve all the stakeholders of pilgrim city, civic body officials have started an action plan to implement water conservation programmes.

At Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) awareness meeting organised in Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) auditorium here on Tuesday, the Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) Commissioner PS Girisha said that the MCT is taking measures to store maximum water in rainy season by rejuvenating water bodies like tanks and ponds.

He stressed on the need for conservation of water as the city faced worst water crisis in summer season. The MCT chief stated that Kailasagiri reservoir, the main water source to temple city, is not enough to meet the needs of Tirupati residents.

The civic body with support of the TTD wants to tap water of Malavadigundem and Kapilatheertham waterfalls during the rainy season, Girisha explained and said that the MCT's main aim is to store the maximum quantity of rainwater during the monsoon.

Addressing the students, the Tirupati Chamber of Commerce (TCC) city president A Manjunath has exhorted them to show their dedication in rejuvenation of water sources here. He gave a call for digging rainwater harvesting pits on the premises of all universities in the city.

Manjunath assured the MCT that the TCC will take part in all the water conservation programmes along with civic body staff and varsity students. DFO (Social Forestry) G Srinivasulu gave a power point presentation on conservation of forests, planting saplings and protecting the trees in the city.

Finally, MCT officials screened a video film on conservation of water with less expenditure. SVU Registrar Prof Sridhara Reddy and hundreds of students were present.