With water levels in Yeleru reservoir, the mainstay of supply for industry and GVMC, encouraging, the reserves are being built up to pave the way to take up major repair work on the Yeleru canal again.
The level is presently past 80 meters against a full reservoir level of 86.56 meters.
At present about 170 MGD, released from the reservoir, flows by gravity to Kanithi Balancing Reservoir and about 90 to 95 MGD is realised. The filling up of reservoirs, particularly Meghadrigedda (MGR), suffered owing to a major breach near Narsipatnam causing a disruption for about 15 days. The 20-meter high embankment was breached with the canal overflowing after 12 cm of rain in three hours last month-end. The Yeleru canal was closed during the major repair that lasted a fortnight.
The filling up of MGR is crucial for the city to act as buffer during the months of closure. The next four months will be devoted to stock enough water so that Yeleru canal repair work can be taken up again. The repairs are also crucial as once the Purushottapatnam Lift on the Godavari becomes operational, water will be available for flow by gravity 365 days and the carrying capacity of the canal has to be increased.
However, building the reserve may also depend upon the agricultural demand for the second crop, sources say.
“If we can fill MGR and meet the needs of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant we will plan for closure of canal for two months,” says Municipal Commissioner M Hari Narayanan.
