With the water-level in the Yeleru reservoir that meets a major part of the city's requirement falling, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation is gearing up for alternative arrangements.
The fall of water level in the Yeleru reservoir does not facilitate flow by gravitation and to tide over which pumping of water is resorted to.
“The present level is 72.64 m and if it drops to 71 m pumping has to begin,” said a GVMC official monitoring the situation. The GVMC Commissioner has already written a letter to Principal Secretary, Irrigation, seeking the government's permission to pump water if it does not rain in the interregnum improving levels.
If required, the pumping will begin from July 1, according to sources. Visakhapatnam Steel Plant will take up the pumping.
Yeleru reservoir contributes about 16 million gallons a day (mgd) for supply by GVMC to its residents.
It also meets requirement of major industries, including the VSP, NTPC, and to AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation for supply to industries.
Apart from the Yeleru reservoir, the improved supply from Tatipudi reservoir has stood the GVMC in good stead this summer.
With the old pipeline replaced under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the supply has improved from the earlier 6 mgd to 8 to 9 mgd now and is expected to improve further by another 1 mgd with its linking to the Godavari pipeline at Marripalem.
With the levels in the reservoir being good, the supply is likely to be maintained for the next few months.
Raiwada reservoir is also contributing about 16 mgd beyond its carrying capacity.
Though the city and its surroundings had not received good rain last season, the catchment area of the reservoirs had rainfall that was keeping the supply going on, said an official.
Besides, the Meghadrigedda reservoir is being used as a storage catering to bulk water supply.
However, officials admit that frequent power cuts are throwing supply schedules haywire.
To overcome it, a generator is being installed at the treatment plant at Sundaraiah Colony at Gajuwaka.
