The Nellore Municipal Corporation (NMC) has begun efforts for creating an uninterrupted drinking water supply system to cater for its fast-increasing population. The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) has sanctioned Rs. 475 crore loan to the NMC for the project that involves development of a water channel from the source, transmitter mains, treatment plants, service reservoirs and overhead tanks.
HUDCO cleared the loan following the intervention of Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana. “The scheme is aimed at creating a system which will meet the drinking water needs of Nellore till 2047,” Municipal Commissioner P.V.V.S. Murthy said.
'Water for the scheme will be drawn from the Sangam reservoir, which is located 40 km away from Nellore town. As of now, the town is dependent on water drawn from various sources in the Penna river in addition to Nellore Swarnala Cheruvu. Developed in 1885, the Sangam anicut is the second barrage after the one constructed at Nellore on the Penna river to meet the irrigation needs of farmers in the Penna delta. Four canals branch out from the Sangam barrage, with one of them supplying water to Nellore Swarnala Cheruvu.
To use the Sangam barrage to meet more needs, the authorities have taken up repair works at a cost of Rs. 120 crore. Increased supplies from the barrage to Nellore town are expected in future.
