The Hindu 13.10.2010
Two gates of Meghadrigedda Reservoir lifted
Staff Reporter
| Heavy inflows necessitate it, says official |
Water let off as a matter of precaution as airport is nearby, he says
GVMC keen on developing it as a storage reservoir
VISAKHAPATNAM: Two gates of the Meghadrigedda Reservoir Project, one of the sources of water to the city, have been lifted and water let off following increased inflows into it.
Following heavy rain in the areas surrounding the reservoir, the inflow increased suddenly leading to increase in the water level. Of the six gates, two were lifted three inches each on Monday evening to release the water.
According to Irrigation Executive Engineer K. Prasad Reddy, the full reservoir level was 61 ft against which 58.5 ft level was maintained. It had a capacity of 1,000 tmcft and some 800 tmcft was maintained and the rest let off as a matter of precaution as airport was located nearby, said Mr. Prasad Reddy. The gates were closed on Tuesday evening.
MGR is being maintained by the Irrigation Department. The reservoir is being used by the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation mainly for storage.
The GVMC wants to obtain the government's permission to develop it as a storage reservoir and proposes to use it for storage once the Polavaram Left Main canal materialises.
The reservoir is 50-year-old and silting up is natural after a period of 30 years. Officials say it is difficult to take up de-silting as it is uneconomic and point out that even tanks are de-silted only if farmers carry the silt on their own.
Water released from MGR inundated the airport and other areas in the past and the problem was solved after the Irrigation Department took up work and dug a canal for the water to fall into the sea.
