The catchment area of various small and big tanks in the city is severely affected due to anthropogenic activities such as construction. This has consequently reduced the storage capacities of the water tanks.
Water conservation grow to be a major concern in the world and in the country, Vizag has taken the issue in notice and will now work on water restoration tanks in the city.
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation is working on a mechanism for comprehensive improvement and restoration of water tanks in the city.
As per a field survey, the civic body has identified 214 tanks in various zones of the city. As many as 29 tanks have completely vanished due to encroachments, while nine have been partially occupied.
The catchment area of various small and big tanks in the city is severely affected due to anthropogenic activities such as construction. This has consequently reduced the storage capacities of the water tanks.
Many of the water tanks located in the newly merged villages, which were once irrigation tanks or drinking water sources, have turned into garbage dumps or sewage pools. People shifting away from the community-based tank system to individual water sources, encroachments, silt and other factors have also decreased their number and/or size.
The GVMC about three years ago renovated various tanks such as in Yendada, Tunglam, Bakkannapalem, Darapalem and Nagarapalem. Now, the GVMC is planning to rejuvenate the remaining tanks with the help of various organisations under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) scheme.
The GVMC has preliminarily decided to develop 14 water bodies in the city. This is expected to cost about Rs 15 crore. Some of these tanks include Krishnamahanthi Tank in Thungalam, Voora Cheruvu in Chingantyada, Bata Cheruvu in Lankelapalem, etc.
As part of the restoration plan, the GVMC would geo-fence all these water bodies with the help of technology. After removing the accumulated garbage, the water bodies would be desilted and deepened. The inlet and outlet channels would be cleared of obstruction. The bund of the water body would be strengthened and the water channels would also be cleared.-
According to GVMC officials, the civic body would seek the financial assistance of various corporate companies under CSR to develop these tanks. It has already written letters to some major organizations on the matter.
In recent times, the civic body has shifted its focus to improving water sources of the city in keeping with the state government’s plan of shifting the executive capital to Vizag city.
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