The plummeting water levels in reservoirs that provide water to the city are a cause for worry to Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC). Having overcome a tough summer situation, the city is now facing yet another difficult phase with a truant monsoon resulting in deficit rainfall.
Major reservoirs that supply water to the city are closer to their minimum levels.
The Yeleru reservoir that is the mainstay for industrial and domestic supply, is at 72.23 m as on Tuesday, much closer to its minimum level of 68.8 m with the maximum being 86.4 m. It has a storage capacity of 23 tmc feet.
At Kateru near Rajahmundry from where water is pumped the level is 14.35 m against a minimum of 10.67 m. From the Kateru lift, 100 cusecs of water is pumped. All through summer, GVMC had done a tightrope walk getting ready to pump water if it does not flow by gravity.
GVMC Chief Engineer B. Jayarami Reddy admits that the water levels are poor and are a cause for concern.
“We are hoping for rain in the catchment area of the reservoirs in the next few days. The present supply can be maintained for a month. But if the situation does not improve by then, we have to think of regulated supply,” he told The Hindu when contacted. Raiwada reservoir with a minimum level of 99 ft currently has a level of 103.48 m. Tatipudi reservoir is better placed at 279.5 feet against a minimum of 251 feet.
With both Yeleru and Thatipudi, the supply to GVMC is linked with agricultural needs.
Sources say unless water can be assured for the crop throughout the kharif season, water release from Yeleru will be of no use.
