Rayala Cheruvu to get a facelift
Visakhapatnam: The local people are elated over conservation of biggest water body near Kurmannapalem, thanks to the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation’s initiative. Rayala Cheruvu (natural water tank), spread in 29 acres near Rajiv Nagar at Duvvada was neglected all these years.
The locals are demanding the development of the tank to ensure ground water levels remain intact in the surrounding areas. As there is no conservation of the tank, the local drainage water is being pumped into the tank and it has become a sewage tank.
While observing the surrounding areas, including 220 apartment complexes in the vicinity of the tank, Kurmannapalem, Sathavahanapalem, Rajiv Nagar and Vetapalem, Commissioner of GVMC M Hari Narayanan directed the officials to prepare an action plan to develop the tank ensuring fresh water.
The officials prepared an action plan, including desiltation of the tank, stopping of drainage water entering the tank and ensure more fresh water from the catchment area of Duvvada Hills.
The officials also planned to develop beautification of the tank bund, including a walking track, children play area and shelters with electrification around the tank. While inspecting the tank works, Commissioner Hari Narayanan said that with the conservation of the big water body, the ground water levels would be increased in the vicinity of the residential areas.
The Commissioner said that Yoga Centre and a foot-over- bridge would also be constructed as a part of the tank development works. The Commissioner directed the officials to divert all the drainage lines to ensure the tank would remain with fresh water.
Speaking about the development of Rayala Cheruvu, former corporator of 58th division L Koteswara Rao said that once the tank works were completed, depleting ground water levels in around the tank would be recharged. As there is no water body in the area, all the borewells have drying up and residents are facing tough times for drinking water during the summer, Rao said.