Water crisis looms large over port CITY

Visakhapatnam: With the deficit rainfall in the southwest monsoon and the recent cyclone-Daye failing to fill the reservoirs, Vizag city in all probability may face the shortage of drinking in the coming months and next summer. Yeleru reservoir is the only hope for the Vizagites which has now 84 (maximum 86) meters of water level as on date.

Other than Yeleru, other reservoirs which were the major source of water for Vizagites are waiting for rains. Godavari river has 13.9 mts against full reservoir level of 18 mts, Raiwada 105 meters against 115 mts, Meghadrigedda 50 feet against 61feet, Thatipudi 273 feet against 297 feet, Gambheeram 117 feet against 126 feet and sub-surface water body Goshtani 30 feet against 35 feet and Mudasarlova 158 feet against 169 feet. Mudasarlova is the only reservoir under the GVMC and the rest with the irrigation department.

The city requires 80 million gallons for the day and the present supply is only 60 mgd. Of this, 16 mgd is given to industries and the remaining for domestic use. In addition to the surface water, the corporation also draws water from 9,000 borewells located in different parts of the city and surroundings. “The monsoon rains failed to fill the reservoirs adequately and we hope three more cyclones expected in October and November might fill them,’’ said superintendent engineer, water supply department of GVMC, KP Raju. Yeleru is the only reservoir that has been filled to the brim. The reservoir is supplying 30 mgd of water and that will take care of the drinking water supply to the city till year-end.

However, after the completion of Polavaram, the city would get 10 tmc of water which will solve the drinking water problem of the city forever, he added. He also added that adequate measures would be taken to streamline the water supply so that the people were not put to hardship. The GVMC will draw the groundwater as the level has increased in the urban areas.