Pipelines are proposed from two major water supply sources to the GVMC that presently carry water through open canals.
Bringing water through open canals is resulting in about 60 mgd of water being lost owing to evaporation, pilferage and sometimes breaching of bunds.
To realise water released at the head works of Raiwada and Yeleru reservoirs, the GVMC is pursuing two projects that are expected to meet the growing water needs of the city.
As of now, against a total demand of 76.6 mgd, including industrial supply, the GVMC is grappling with a deficit of 19 mgd. The deficit is expected to touch 39 mgd by 2020. Apart from meeting the domestic supply, the deficit in bulk water is hitting the industry hard. Industries are ready to pay for the water to the Visakhapatnam Industrial Water Supply Company but it is in no position to meet the demand. While 27 mgd is pumped at the head works of Raiwada, it flows through an open canal and only 16 mgd is realised at the filtration plant now. As a part of its plans to overcome the situation, the GVMC has proposed laying a 58 km pipeline from Raiwada reservoir to Narava filtration plant at a cost of Rs.350 crore. The project has been approved under the spill over funds of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) by the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee. The committee has also sanctioned Rs.290 crore a few months ago.
“Now the State government has scrutinised the detailed project report (DPR) and forwarded it to the Government of India and committed itself to foot the 20 per cent cost as per the JNNURM norms,” officials sources told The Hindu when contacted on Wednesday. Under the urban mission norms, 50 per cent is granted by the Central government, 20 per cent by the State government and the remaining has to be borne by the urban local body.
Grant sought
The Yeleru pipeline running 153 km from Yeleru to Kaniti Balancing Reservoir, however, is more ambitious and requires a massive Rs.1,900 crore.
The DPR has been prepared. The GVMC is seeking 90 per cent Hudco assistance on the lines of Krishna water supply project to Hyderabad, executed by the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board.
After a visit by its team, HUDCO has expressed willingness to finance the project. It is prepared to extend a loan of Rs.1,500 crore and 10 per cent will be borne by the State government and Rs.250 crore has to be mobilised locally. The GVMC is seeking the assistance of industries like the steel plant to raise the Rs.250 crore.
However, the GVMC has expressed its inability to take a loan to execute the project and is instead urging a grant through budgetary support by the State government.
