MLA seeks immediate Tatapudi supply; GVMC outlines long‑term projects
Visakhapatnam: Bheemili MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao on Thursday pressed Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) officials to move swiftly to resolve an ongoing drinking water shortage in the Madhurawada and Bheemili zones, according to local reporting.
At a review meeting held at his camp office, the MLA stressed that officials should prioritise drawing water from the Tatapudi reservoir to meet residents' immediate needs, and said he had already taken up the matter with Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana, the report added.
"Officials must prioritise drawing of water from the Tatapudi reservoir to meet the residents' immediate needs," Ganta Srinivasa Rao said at the meeting, according to the report.
Officials informed the MLA that although Godavari water has reached Visakhapatnam, the drinking water supply to the affected zones has not yet improved to the required extent. They attributed the worsening local situation to declining groundwater levels after inadequate rainfall.
Sanctioned projects and local measures
During the review, GVMC officers outlined both immediate and long‑term steps. They told the MLA a ₹550‑crore project currently under implementation would provide a long‑term drinking water solution for Madhurawada. Separately, designs were presented for a smaller, targeted scheme to improve supply in Ward 4 at an estimated cost of ₹4 crore.
- Immediate demand: draw water from the Tatapudi reservoir to relieve shortages.
- Long term: implementation of a ₹550‑crore project to secure water for Madhurawada.
- Ward‑level intervention: a planned ₹4 crore project to improve supply in Ward 4.
- Local labour: the MLA directed officials to use local workers for construction.
Those present at the review meeting included GVMC Water Supply Superintending Engineer Pallam Raju, Executive Engineer Sudhakar and Zonal Commissioner Ayyappa Naidu, who apprised the MLA of project status and technical plans, the source reported.
Administrative directives and context
Ganta directed officials to expedite the work on the sanctioned projects and meet prescribed timelines. He also asked that local labour be employed for construction activities, a measure that the report said was intended to ensure faster execution and provide employment to residents.
The officials' explanation that groundwater reserves have declined following poor rainfall underlines the dual pressure on water supply: surface‑water infrastructure is still being scaled up even as traditional well and borewell sources shrink. The report did not provide a detailed implementation schedule for the ₹550‑crore project, nor did it specify when Tatapudi water would begin flowing to the affected zones.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Immediate supply source requested | Tatapudi reservoir |
| Major project under implementation | ₹550 crore — to ensure long‑term water supply for Madhurawada |
| Ward‑level improvement | ₹4 crore project proposed for Ward 4 |
The MLA's approach combined short‑term relief measures with pressure to accelerate capital works. He also notified the Municipal Administration minister about the urgency, the report said, signalling an attempt to escalate the issue beyond municipal administration to secure faster interdepartmental coordination.
What remains unclear from the report is the exact timeline for drawing Tatapudi water into Madhurawada and Bheemili, the stage of procurement or construction for the ₹550‑crore scheme, and any temporary arrangements planned to supply drinking water while long‑term works proceed.
Residents and local stakeholders will be watching implementation and timelines closely, given the report that Godavari water has reached Visakhapatnam but has not yet eased shortages in the affected zones.
