As Andhra Pradesh started attracting substantial investments, the Industries and Commerce and Water Resources (WRD) Departments are duly concentrating on providing assured water supply to the new units coming up particularly in the manufacturing sector, straddling the Visakhapatnam - Chennai corridor.
As per the Industrial Water Allotment Policy framed in late 2014, 10% of the water from both existing and new projects is to be reserved for industrial use and allocations are to be made by the State Investment Promotion Committee or District Industries Promotion Committee for industries for which clearances are provided at the State and district levels respectively.
It was estimated that nine industrial clusters, including the largest one spread across 37,650 acres in Chittoor and Nellore districts (southern region) comprising Yerpedu-Srikalahasti node, Mambattu, Sri City and Naidupeta and Chinnapanduru areas, require 9.96 tmcft (approximately 778 Million Litres per Day) of water.
Quota from Kandaleru
According to official sources, the southern region cluster alone needs 3.60 tmcft (279.30 MLD). For this thriving industrial cluster in the VCIC, the Kandaleru reservoir in Nellore district has been identified as the source of water.
Kandaleru is also the source for Krishnapatnam node whose requirement is pegged at 0.74 tmcft (57.40 MLD). The southern region and Krishnapatnam clusters were together allocated one tmcft earlier.
Other allocations
Coming to other clusters, Orvakal (Kurnool district), Erramanchi automobile park (Anantapur), Gorantla-Hindupur (Anantapur), Donakonda (Prakasam), Vayalpadu (Chittoor), Kopparthy (Kadapa) and Thatiguntapalli (Chittoor) require 109.40 MLD, 7.76 MLD, 67.50 MLD, 134.20 MLD, 70.60 MLD, 46.10 MLD and 6.50 MLD respectively.
It has been decided to supply water to the Orvakal cluster from Srisailam foreshore near Mucchumarri and from the Gollapalli reservoir to Erramanchi cluster where KIA Motors has set up its India’s first manufacturing unit.
Water for Gorantla-Hindupur, Donakonda and Vayalpadu clusters is to be provided from the Gandikota, Veligonda and Veligallu reservoirs.
Kopparthy cluster has been allotted the water available in Somasila foreshore and the Adivipalli reservoir is the source for Thatiguntapalli.
Higher quota
According to a senior officer in the Industries Department, as at the beginning of August, the WRD is in the process of making higher allocation of water to the Chittoor node and Orvakal industrial park following their reaching of the 10% limit of water withdrawal from the Somasila project and tying up water for the mega industrial park at Kopparthy.
Necessary steps are being taken in accordance with the A.P. Domestic, Irrigation and Industrial Water Grid Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Bill which was passed in both houses of the State Legislature in April this year.
