GVMC to invite bids for Polavaram DPR

Visakhapatnam: In a first step towards bringing water from the Polavaram project to Vizag city, the proposed executive capital of the state, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation ( GVMC ) has decided to invite bids to prepare a detailed project report ( DPR ). Apart from supplying water to Vizag city, the project will also supply water to rural areas of Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts.

The successful consultant will be tasked with preparation of a suitable plan to draw and convey allocated water of about 12 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) to meet the water requirements of the city and other places along the route of the project. The GVMC plans to take advantage of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds of major industries of the city as well as the Jal Shakti Abhiyan as the project covers rural areas in both districts.

The consultant will have to submit the DPR in 120 days from the date of signing the contract. Currently, the Yeleru reservoir meets about 60% of the water needs of the city. The city’s other sources are Meghadrigedda, Raiwada, Tatipudi, Mudasarlova and Gambheeram reservoirs and the Gosthani river.

However, the increasing pressure from industrial and domestic needs hits domestic water supply in summer. In the past, some industries in the city have operated at reduced capacity due to a fall in water supply. Further, the Yeleru’s carrying capacity has been compromised over the years due to accumulated silt, evaporation and unauthorised withdrawals along its banks. Even though around 135 million gallons per day (MGD) is currently released into the Yeleru canal from the Yeleru reservoir and the Godavari, the area under GVMC receives only about 65 MGD.

GVMC chief engineer M Venkateswara Rao said they will conduct a pre-bid meeting in the next few days.