The Hindu 04.10.2010
Expert suggests underwater video recording at 10 MGD plant
Staff Reporter
| VMC officials cautioned against pumping out entire water of collection well |
IIT expert's observations assume significance
Four-member technical team scheduled to visit the city on October 7
VIJAYAWADA: The collection well of the 10-MGD water treatment plant Ramaligeswara Nagar sank nearly a fortnight ago. Though many theories, including sand blowout, have been in circulation as reasons for the sinking of the well, none has been established so far.
S.R. Gandhi, an expert from IIT Madras, inspected the plant a couple of days ago. His “preliminary observations” assume significance in the wake of apprehensions that there is a possibility of failure of ‘ceiling concrete'. Prof. Gandhi did, indeed, feel that “ceiling concrete might have failed.” But, it could be conclusively established only after further studies, he told the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) officials and suggested that they bail out the silt accumulated in the well.
He, however, cautioned them against pumping out the entire water and emptying the well, VMC sources say. Interestingly, there were theories that the collection well would sink further if it was emptied totally as sand already blew out. The water that collected in the well was preventing further blowing out of sand.
Prof. Gandhi asked the engineers to record the situation in the well using underwater video cameras. The footage obtained thus would provide a better picture of the condition inside the well. Based on the footage, he would make necessary suggestions. The VMC received similar suggestions from the Engineer-in-Chief, Hyderabad, the sources say.
The officials are now on the lookout for an underwater video cameraman.
The VMC sources say that Prof. Gandhi gave some information about the agencies based at Chennai that carry out underwater video recording.
The Corporation would hire their services in a day or two so that the footage became useful to the four-member technical team constituted by the State government scheduled to visit the city on October 7.
The Corporation officials were in a bind trying to fix the problem. Initially, the officials elevated the motors at the collection well to restore water supply temporarily after sand entered it. Their efforts proved futile, as they could not pump water from the well. The 180-HP motors used in the plant created tremors in the vicinity and pumped out sand along with water.
