As the city is experiencing acute water shortage this summer, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, facing a severe problem of transmission loss, is contemplating laying a pipeline from Yeleru reservoir to the city to avoid it.
If the crisis in 2003 led to the Kateru lift irrigation scheme on the Godavari near Rajahmundry materialising, the present tough scenario is focusing on the loss due to seepage, theft, evaporation etc.
Estimated cost
After a visit to Yeleru reservoir from where 60 million gallon a day (mgd) is being pumped from the below dead storage water of 2 tmcft and the Kateru Lift Irrigation Scheme from where 85 mgd is being pumped on Monday, Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao said the 153 km pipeline estimated to cost Rs.1,600 crores.
The pipeline would be proposed under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission through public-private partnership with the 30 per cent contribution coming from the industries in and around the city.
“If we pump 110 mgd from Yeleru and Kateru, we are realising only 48 mgd at the Kanithi Balancing Reservoir. The pipeline will be a long-term solution. We will discuss it in the council and with experts,” the Mayor told reporters.
TDP and CPI floor leaders, who accompanied the Mayor and about 25 corporators welcomed the pipeline proposal though they seemed to differ on the manner it was proposed to be taken up.
The Kateru three motors, each of 1750 kw capacity, are pumping water round the clock which it reaches Yeleru about 53 km away by a pipeline, according to Chief Engineer B. Jayarami Reddy. Two approach channels of .75 km each are also dug.
Water level
At Yeleru reservoir, from which the Chief Minister permitted drawing of 60 cusecs more, 11 motors are used to lift water over a 5 m wide and 540 m long bund. The reservoir with a capacity of 23 tmcft reached its dead storage of 6 tmcft four months ago. During the last four months 4 tmcft was drawn. The remaining water would last two months, said Superintendent Engineer (Water Supply) V. Chandraiah. For the first time after 2003, a 400 m channel was formed to draw water.
