The Hindu 27.12.2010
VMC planning to link two water treatment plants
| It is contemplating laying the pipeline with Rs. 12.84 crore |
The proposed pipeline is expected to be ready by March 2011
Five new deep borewells dug as part of the contingency measures
VIJAYAWADA: The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) is contemplating linking Gangiredduladibba 10-MGD plant, which is under construction, and the Ramalingeswara Nagar 10-MGD plant to avoid hindrances in future.
The Corporation began efforts in that direction in view of the problems that cropped up at Ramalingeswara Nagar water treatment plant. As many as nine reservoirs falling under this plant supply water to more than three lakh people.
The VMC is contemplating laying the pipeline at an estimated cost of Rs. 12.84 crore shortly. Of this, Rs. 2.5 crore, officials said, would be met from the funds available under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) programme.
The proposed pipeline is expected to be ready by March 2011.
The Gangiredduladibba plant would draw water from Ryve's canal and treat it for supply to more than three lakh people in the city. The project, officials said, would be completed by March 2011.
Collection well
The collection well of the plant sank by one-and-a-half feet on September 19. Huge cracks developed around the well, sending officials into jitters.
The Corporation used to supply only six MGD water from the plant though installed capacity is 10 MGD. Ever since the problem cropped up, the officials were supplying only 2.5 MGD of water from the plant, while the remaining 3.5 MGD is being supplied from borewells. If the linking of the plants is completed, the VMC would have to draw at least 2.5 MGD from Gangiredduladibba to continue the same amount of water, even while depending on borewells.
The VMC dug five new deep bore wells – two at J.D. Nagar and one each at P&T Colony, Srinivas Nagar Bank Colony and Patamata – as part of the contingency measures. With this, the total number of deep bore wells would touch 29. At present, there are 25 borewells at various locations. The officials reconditioned 11 bore wells as soon as water crises loomed over many parts of the city.
Nine reservoirs
As many as nine reservoirs – one each at Srinivasa Nagar Bank Colony, P&T Colony, Krishnalanka, Veterinary Colony Ranigarithota, Ramalingeswara Nagar and Nelson Mandela Park, and two at JD Nagar – are served by the Ramalingeswara Nagar plant. These reservoirs cater to the needs of population in Krishnalanka, Raningarithota, Patamata, Gunadala, and colonies up to Ayyappa Nagar near Autonagar.
