VISAKHAPATNAM: With an aim to conserve rainwater in the entire city, the GVMC is roping in all the industrial units, apartment associations and commercial establishments and preparing an action plan to save every drop of water in the ensuing monsoon.
As a part of the state government’s ‘Neeru-Chettu’ programme, the GVMC has initiated the Neeru programme. After the devastation caused by cyclone Hudhud, the GVMC, in association with all the commercial units and industries, took up massive tree plantation programme. The GVMC has decided to review the plantation programme after the southwest monsoon sets in.
Former deputy mayor K Dorababu Tuesday demanded conservation of water at all possible areas, including water reservoirs. He also suggested the GVMC to impose strict guidelines on the utilisation of groundwater and asked the GVMC not to allow any commercial exploitation of groundwater any more.
“There are 76 rivulets merging into the sea on the beach front needing protection from encroachments. Measures are to be taken to protect them from sewage water. The reservoirs being used by the GVMC are falling prey to encroachments and this needs to be checked. The reservoirs were not desilted till now and losing precious storage capacity. There are 19 water resources, including Mudasarlova, Meghadrigedda, Boramma Gedda and Kharjuragedda which are in dire need of modernisation under the Neeru-Chettu programme,” Dorababu said.
In fact, the GVMC has planned to initiate the water conservation programme, to be launched by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, in the first week of May. But due to busy schedule of the Chief Minister, the programme was delayed.
According to the GVMC’s action plan, the major works to be undertaken are desiltation of the three major reservoirs (Mudasarlova, Gambheeram and Meghadrigeeda), digging of rainwater pits in all residential colonies, government and private establishments and launching special rainwater conservation programmes in all the industrial units.
“The GVMC has asked DCIL to conduct a study on the Mudasarlova, Meghadrigedda and Gambheeram reservoirs. The Mudasarlova reservoir is fully owned by the GVMC and the other two are being maintained by the Irrigation department. The GVMC, in association with the irrigation department, will initiate the dredging works after the DCIL submits the study reports,” GVMC commissioner Pravin Kumar informed TNIE.