VIJAYAWADA: In a proactive move to manage the city’s growing water needs during the peak summer months, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation has drawn up a detailed Summer Action Plan with an estimated cost of Rs 15.54 crore.
The plan is aimed at ensuring consistent and equitable distribution of drinking water across all areas, including vulnerable and tail-end localities.
With the city’s population nearing 12 lakh, the daily water supply currently stands at 196 million litres, sourced primarily from the Krishna River along with groundwater reserves. Water is being supplied twice a day, with one-hour duration each in the morning and evening.
Anticipating a drop in groundwater levels during summer, the civic body has planned a series of pre-emptive measures to address potential shortages. These include drilling new power borewells, flushing existing hand and power bores, and ensuring supply to tail-end areas through tanker services.
A total of 120 works have been proposed under the action plan. These include 17 new power borewells, flushing of 85 power bores, 47 hand bore-related works, and flushing of 30 hand bores. Additionally, 26 works relate to transportation of water through tankers, while 24 pump sets will undergo repairs. Pipeline maintenance, including leak rectification and interconnections, will be taken up under 21 works.
To strengthen the system, the Corporation will procure essential maintenance materials such as sluice valves, CID joints, and leak-proofing equipment. As part of public convenience, 93 chalivendrams (drinking water kiosks) will be set up across the city during the summer.
At present, Vijayawada has 73 service reservoirs 49 Elevated Level Service Reservoirs (ELSRs) and 24 Ground Level Service Reservoirs (GLSRs) with a total storage capacity of 80,617 kilolitres. The city also has 911 hand borewells.
To cater to unserved and water-scarce areas, 7 municipal tankers and 31 hired tankers are being utilised, with additional deployment planned.
The works have been distributed across three circles, with Rs 378.14 lakh allocated for 36 works in Circle-1, Rs 484.82 lakh for 36 works in Circle-2, and Rs 691.98 lakh for 48 works in Circle-3.
Speaking to TNIE Satya Kumari,VMC In-charge Chief Engineer said that the plan is aimed at ensuring uninterrupted and safe drinking water supply across the city, with all measures being taken to complete the works ahead of peak summer demand.
“Around Rs 16 crore were alloted from the General Funds as part of the Summer Action Plan. We assure that there will be no water scarcity in the city; all the tail ends and hill areas will also be provided with plenty of water as usual’’, she added. She further added that about 83 Chalivendrams (water kiosks) are also being set up across the city to cater the drinking water needs of the public, visitors.