The Rs. 18 crore drinking water augmentation scheme would be completed by April 20 to help the municipality supply water every day instead of once-in-three days as in vogue for the last six years.
Executive Engineer (Public Health) A. Satyanarayana Rao, said that six out of seven elevated level service reservoirs (ELSRs), filtration plant are nearing completion. All of them would be ready for commissioning in April. Pipeline has been laid connecting the new ELSRs to the existing distribution mains except for patches where it crosses the road in Ramanagar and at Mourya hotel. These patch works would be completed within a week after getting necessary clearance from Roads and Buildings department.
The pipeline would then be put to hydraulic testing. He expressed confidence to make the system ready for commissioning by April 20.
When once ready, the new system should be connected to the existing distribution network reservoir which would necessitate closure for 2-3 three days under each service reservoir.
The public health department would draw out a plan in consultation with the municipality to complete the work with least inconvenience to the public.
In any case, the new scheme would help the municipality switch over to daily supply of drinking water to the people from mid-May positively, he said.
Ongole MP, Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, got the scheme sanctioned by the Central government.
Mr. Satyanarayana Rao said that the filtration plant and the ELSRs at Gandhinagar, Sirigiri hill top, Dibbalaroad, Tip Top, Ramanagar and Bhagyanagar were nearing completion. Work could not be started on the seventh reservoir at FCI godowns due to poor soils.
So it is now proposed to construct it at Kothapatnam bus stand and the work would begin soon, he said.
But the scheme did not envisage laying of any pipeline. So the municipality would not be able to extend water supply to any of the uncovered areas.
Secondly, the existing pipeline was laid more than 40 years ago.
As the density of population has increased 2-3 fold, the pipeline would not be able to meet the existing demand.
The municipality had to get another scheme sanctioned for laying of new pipeline in uncovered areas and replace the existing pipeline with greater diameter to cater to the needs of the people.
