City Grapples With Significant Water Deficit
Vizianagaram Municipal Corporation (VMC) is reportedly contemplating diverting water from the Andra reservoir to alleviate a pressing water shortage affecting the city. The municipality acknowledges a daily demand of 47 million litres, with current availability plummeting to as low as 35 million litres per day during the critical summer months of April and May. Previous reports from April 21, 2025, indicated an even starker shortfall, with the city receiving only 26.5 million litres per day.
The plan involves drawing water from the Champavati river via the Andra reservoir, situated in the Gajapathinagaram constituency. This measure requires prior approval from the Irrigation Department. Officials have stated their readiness to tap into the reservoir's resources, especially if rainfall remains insufficient in the coming weeks.
Andra Reservoir: A Multifaceted Water Source
The Andra Reservoir, located in Mentada mandal, serves a dual purpose, catering to both agricultural and drinking water needs in the Gotlam, Gorla, and Vizianagaram areas. The reservoir, built in the village of Andra, boasts a catchment area of 113.96 square kilometers and a gross capacity of 27.75 million cubic meters. Its irrigation network is designed to cover 9,426 acres across Mentada, Gajapathinagaram, and Bobbili mandals.
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Recent actions, including the release of water from the reservoir by ministers Kondapalli Srinivas and Gummidi Sandhya Rani on a Sunday, underscore its importance in regional water management. The government has also articulated its commitment to the welfare of farmers in north Andhra.
Historical Context and Ongoing Challenges
This is not the first instance of Vizianagaram confronting summer water scarcity. Reports from May 8, 2021, indicated that the VMC was already arranging to secure water from sources like the Thotapali and Andra reservoirs to meet the city's summer demand, supplementing its usual supply from the Gosthani and Champavati rivers.
The Andra Reservoir Project itself has faced challenges. An overview suggests a need for modernization due to maintenance issues and incomplete structures, leading to a shortfall in its targeted irrigation coverage. Despite these ongoing concerns, the reservoir's capacity to provide supplemental drinking water appears to be a critical, albeit possibly temporary, solution for Vizianagaram's immediate water needs.
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