The Hindu 28.08.2009

Give priority to drinking water, says official

Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM: Special Officer for the district M.G. Gopal on Thursday directed officials to give top priority to drinking water and ensure supply of 70 litres per capita per day (lpcd) in urban areas and 40 lpcd in rural areas.

Reviewing the drought situation in the district, he said that according to the National Water Policy drinking water should get top most priority and supply to industry the least.

He directed Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation SE (Water Supply) V. Chandraiah to be ready with alternative plans as the present trend indicated scarcity of drinking water in the next few weeks.

He asked district Collector J. Syamala Rao to send proposal to reduce water for irrigation needs from Tatipudi and Raiwada reservoirs so as to increase drinking water supply.

Also, supply to industries from the Yeleru Canal should be reduced by duly notifying the units.

Water supply position at Bhimunipatnam and Anakapalle municipalities should be maintained at 70 lpcd.

Officials said owing to a deficit of 29 per cent in normal rainfall, 41 per cent of the normal extent was not covered under crops.

Joint Collector P. Satyanarayana Reddy, DMHO J. Sarojini, DRO D. Venkat Reddy, DRDA Project Director Bhaskarachary, Agriculture Joint Director Girija Sankar participated.

ITPI chapter

President and secretary-general respectively of the Institute of Town Planners of India (ITPI) Diwakar S Meshram and Pradeep Kumar on Thursday held discussions with VUDA Vice-Chairman V.N. Vishnu on various issues pertaining to planning and development in Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region . They were here in connection with the starting of the Visakhapatnam chapter of ITPI.

They were briefed on the master plan of the VMR, VUDA’s joint venture projects, the works taken up under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and other development activities.

Mr. Vishnu told them that VUDA was keen on maintaining regional balance by identifying growth centres.

It had made viable proposals for development of golden triangle covering Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle and Bheemunipatnam.

The golden triangle can contribute to the overall economic and social development in the region.

An effective and planned transport network was one of the major components of the triangle, Mr. Vishnu said.

VUDA would initiate plans and programmes for the overall development of world class facilities in the areas of infrastructure and all other related sectors in the VMR region covering 5,573.51 sq km, the Vice-Chairman added.

He felt that the starting of ITPI Visakhapatnam chapter would extend rich benefits to the region by way of training and giving professional guidance to town planners and other related personnel.

Mr. Meshram and Mr. Kapoor have assured Mr. Vishnu that they would associate themselves with the activities of VUDA.

Secretary A. Jagadeesh, Chief Urban Planner K. Anand Babu and OSD Y. Ramesh were present.

The Hindu 28.08.2009

Release of water brings cheer to thirsting people

Special Correspondent

Photo: Sreenivas Kommuri

The dried-up tank at Darsi that supplied drinking water to 142 villages affected by excess fluoride in ground water. —

ONGOLE: The news that water was released into Nagarjuna Sagar canal at 4.30 pm on Wednesday provided much cheer to Ongole town and several villages that depended on the canal to meet their drinking water requirements.

The water is expected to reach Ongole in 10 days to avert a crisis in the town. The government need to monitor closely and prevent drawals for agricultural purposes in the upstream areas to ensure that water reaches in time to quench the thirst of lakhs of people. The summer storage tanks went almost dry affecting drinking water supply in Ongole town, 142 villages under Netherlands Aided Project at Darsi, Kanigiri major panchayats and 170 notified tanks under Nagarjuna Sagar right canal causing concern about drinking water.

There are two summer storage tanks at Darsi. While one tank supplied water to Kanigiri major panchayat, another one provided safe drinking water to 142 villages affected by excess fluoride in groundwater. Both the tanks went dry last week. Officials arranged transportation to seven other villages and they advised other villages to draw water from wells that contain fluoride in permissive limits.

Assistant Engineer Venkateswarlu said the tanks were to be filled in June. As there is delay in release of canal water this year, both the tanks went dry causing concern. Ongole town too has two summer storage tanks to supply drinking water to more than two lakh people. While one tank went dry last month, another tank held enough water to meet the requirements till August month end. Following delay in water release, municipal officials have been releasing water with bated breath for the last fortnight. In this background, the government released water into the right canal yesterday. It would take seven to 10 days for the water to reach Ongole under normal circumstances. The district officials need to monitor water flow closely and ensure that the drinking water tanks got filled on a priority basis before farmers drew water for agricultural purposes. It is going to be an uphill task for officials.