With falling water levels at Yeleru reservoir, the mainstay of supply for city, precariously moving towards dead storage level in the next few weeks, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation is biting the bullet and making arrangements for pumping.
The present level at Yeleru reservoir is 74.63 m and the dead storage level is 72.5 m. Once the dead storage is reached water does not flow by gravity from the reservoir to Yeleru Left Main Canal that runs more than 150 km to Kanithi Balancing Reservoir. Of the roughly 66 mgd, including supply to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), required for the city, 35 to 36 mgd come from YLMC making it the lifeline. Deficit rainfall has led to the critical situation, say officials.
“Depending on agricultural supply to East Godavari district that is hovering around 800 cusecs as of now, we are gearing up to pump water anytime after 20 days. If farm supply eases, the pumping may be delayed by a few days,” Municipal Commissioner Pravin Kumar said after an on-the-spot assessment at Yeleru reservoir on Wednesday. GVMC was determined to maintain the normal supply at 115 liters per capita per day, he said.
To tide over the water situation during the three summer months from March, the Visakhapatnam Industrial Water Supply Company (VIWSCO) will spend Rs.11 crore of which Rs.8 crore is for pumping for 90 days.
Mr. Pravin Kumar said the permission of the Chief Secretary was obtained to draw 50 cusecs more, apart from the present 150 cusecs, to maintain domestic supply as well to the steel plant.
Funds sought
About Rs.3 crore would be spent on strengthening bunds, preventing pilferage, patrolling etc. VSP would make arrangements for pumping. GVMC has sought funds from the government under the summer contingency plan.
Mr. Pravin Kumar, who visited the lift scheme of VIWSCO at Kateru near Rajahmundry, said two motors were in working condition and another was being readied. Tenders would be called for keeping the remaining two standby motors also ready and 100 cusecs would be pumped from it into Yeleru canal by pipeline.
An approach channel would be formed to improve water availability at the pumping point. It would cost Rs.49 lakh. Water availability has been low in view of the agricultural demand that is expected to continue till April 15.
Chief Engineer N. Durga Prasad, Advisor to VISCOW N. Jaganmohana Rao and SE (Projects-1) A. Umamaheswara Rao accompanied the Commissioner.
