Archive · 12 Sep 2026
MP Reviews Visakhapatnam Water Supply, Urges Yeleru Canal Desilting
M. Sribharat held a meeting about keeping Visakhapatnam’s water supply reliable.
Some reservoirs have less water because there has not been enough rain.
The Yeleru water system is especially important because it supplies much of the city’s water.
Workers have finished about 30% of the Yeleru Canal’s desilting.
Officials were asked to complete the rest of the work quickly.
They also plan to store 15 TMC of water in the Yeleru reservoir by October-end.
This amount is expected to help meet the city’s needs until June 2027.
Officials discussed fixing supply problems, protecting groundwater, and encouraging rainwater harvesting.
A proposed ₹220-crore project would improve rainwater management and flood preparedness.
M. Sribharat reviewed Visakhapatnam’s drinking-water supply and preparedness for the coming months with officials and MLAs.
Rain-fed reservoirs including Raiwada, Meghadrigedda, and Tatipudi have lower storage because of deficient rainfall linked to El Niño.
Desilting of the Yeleru Canal is 30% complete, with officials directed to finish the remaining work quickly.
Officials aim to store 15 TMC in Yeleru reservoir by October-end, enough to meet the city’s projected 6.2 TMC requirement through June 2027.
The meeting also addressed groundwater extraction, rainwater harvesting, public complaints, flood management, and a proposed ₹220-crore mitigation project.
- Who
- Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat, MLAs, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation commissioner, and Irrigation and Water Supply officials.
- What
- A review of Visakhapatnam’s drinking-water supply, reservoir levels, canal desilting, and preparations for uninterrupted supply.
- When
- The review took place on Friday; officials aim to store water in Yeleru reservoir by October-end and meet projected demand through June 2027.
- Where
- At the VMRDA office in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
- Why
- Rain-fed reservoirs have declining storage because of deficient rainfall, requiring stronger alternative water sources and long-term water-management measures.
- Primary water system
- The Yeleru water system historically provides nearly 60% of Visakhapatnam’s water supply.
- Canal desilting
- Desilting of the Yeleru Canal is 30% complete.
- Target canal capacity
- After completion, the canal is expected to carry 600 cusecs of water.
- Storage target
- Officials are working to store 15 TMC in Yeleru reservoir by October-end.
- Projected requirement
- The planned storage is expected to meet the city’s projected 6.2 TMC requirement until June 2027.
- Flood mitigation proposal
- A ₹220-crore Urban Flood Mitigation Project has been proposed under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Other measures
- The meeting addressed authorised water sources, groundwater extraction, rainwater harvesting, recharge systems, and public complaint response.