Despite having three canals flowing through the city and Prakasam Barrage close by, sufficient supply of drinking water to many parts of Vijayawada still remains a challenge. The situation in different villages on the outskirt areas like Gannavaram is even worse.
Moreover, proposals to Brahmalingam Cheruvu to address the drinking water woes in Gannavaram mandal appear to be confined to papers. The tank, residents say, constructed by the zamindars of Nuzvid, was once spread over 1,000 acres. The water body, just 12 km away from Gannavaram now caters to the irrigation and drinking water needs of 15 villages.
There has been a long-pending demand from the residents to develop the tank into a full-fledged reservoir, but multiple factors play hurdles for the demand to materialise. Apart from poor inflows, rampant encroachments and real estate boom have eaten into the tank area, shrinking it into a small water body. With insufficient supply, residents in Veerapanenigudem, Mettapalli and other surrounding villages in Gannavaram mandal are forced to depend on private water tankers and those supplied by voluntary organisations and local political leaders.
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Recently, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) laid foundation for a reservoir project at Subbaraonagar to address the drinking water needs of some localities on the city fringes. Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana laid the foundation stone for the 1,500 KL capacity reservoir involving a cost of Rs. 3 crore.
“But, similar initiative still eludes Brahmalingam cheruvu, though the demand has been pending since many years,” laments Ramakrishna Reddy, a resident of Gannavaram.
Admitting the problems, Gannavaram MLA V. Vamsimohan said that the district administration had planned to conduct a land survey to clear encroachments and ensure free inflows into the tank.
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The proposal to develop it into a reservoir will also be taken up with the authorities. This will not only address the drinking water woes but also help improve the ground water levels, he said.
Tourist destination
Given the picturesque locations at the tank, the Tourism Department had planned to develop it into a tourist destination, by providing boating, accommodation and other facilities.
The project, estimated to cost Rs.75 lakh, is yet to see the light of the day.
residents in Veerapanenigudem, Mettapalli and other surrounding villages in Gannavaram mandal are forced to depend on private water tankers
Plans to develop Brahmalingam Cheruvu remains
on paper
Apart from poor inflows, land grab and realty boom
is eating into
the tank area