In spite of reaping tangible benefits from Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) for monitoring bulk water supply to industries, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is taking its time to renew the maintenance.
For two years, SCADA system was in operation covering 70 industrial units. It was given to an agency on Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) basis.
The agency replaced mechanical valves with electromagnetic valves and monitored the supply using a GSM node from the Town Service Reservoir.
Revenue increased
After the two years, it was estimated that the revenue increased from about Rs.5 crore to Rs.5.5 crore to Rs. 6 crore to Rs.7 crore.
The revenue accruals from the industry, it was estimated, rose by 10 to 15 per cent owing to the operation of SCADA, said a source in GVMC. Rise in bulk water rates also contributed to higher revenue. After implementation for two years, the term ended in April.
After the expiry of the term there had been a divide among GVMC officials on whether to continue using SCADA. Since the civic body does not have any manpower for maintaining SCADA, a section favoured its continuance.
“There are only a few civic bodies implementing SCADA in the country and GVMC has received recognition for doing it,” said the source. Besides Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Surat, are among the cities implementing it.
Tenders called
Though there was a different view that GVMC should maintain it, finally continuance of SCADA was favoured and tenders called for it. It was reliably learnt that two agencies, including the one that had earlier maintained it, bid for it. Now GVMC has to take a call and decide on the future course of action.
