The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation is making efforts to get the Yeleru canal desilted so as to improve the yield from it to tide over the summer crisis.
With the available water supply falling short by about 16 mgd for domestic requirement the desilting of the Yeleru canal has acquired immediacy.
In the main water supply source from Yeleru reservoir and the Godavari Pumping Scheme at Kateru, if 119 mgd of water is pumped only 55 mgd is realised when it reaches the supply reservoirs.
“If the supply is improved by saving 10 to 15 mgd it will improve the situation. Hence we are exploring the possibility of desilting without closing the canal,” Municipal Commissioner V.N.Vishnu told The Hindu on Monday. Mr. Vishnu who is in Bangalore for discussions with the L&T's EPC wing officials said two or three options for desilting the canal considering the technical aspects were suggested.
The EPC wing has the experience of taking up similar work on canals in the desert areas of Rajasthan and a lake in Bangalore.
Mr. Vishnu said the issue would be discussed with the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant officials after his return from Bangalore and a short-term solution for taking up desilting considered as a part of the summer action plan.
The 156-km Yeleru canal is being maintained by the Visakhapatnam Industrial Water Supply Company.
It was last desilted in January 2008. Maintenance work could not be taken up as the canal is required to be closed for the purpose.
