The 24x7 drinking water supply project in the north-west residential areas of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) limits has achieved around 70% progress. 

Funded by the Asian Development Bank, this initiative is a subproject of the Visakhapatnam Chennai Industrial Corridor Development Program (VCICDP), with a budget of 385 crore.

According to GVMC officials, the project aims to provide continuous water supply to approximately 50,000 families in the locality. It also targets reducing non-revenue water to less than 15%. 

Currently, GVMC has initiated uninterrupted water supply to about 5,000 households through 24 strategically located district metered areas (DMAs).

Commissioner CM Saikanth Varma highlighted that GVMC has established a 3-megawatt floating solar power plant on Meghadri Gedda reservoir using the 14 crore 'urban climate change resilience trust fund' under the VCICDP.

Additionally, the Mudasarlova catchment area has been developed with about 8 crore under the same resilient trust fund component. 

The Asian Development Bank has also supported the rollout of 75 electric auto rickshaws in Vizag city, with 10 e-vehicles operating on the beach road for passenger transport, and the remaining 65 vehicles catering to the solid waste collection needs of the corporation. 

GVMC has constructed three battery swapping-cum-service stations for these vehicles.

The 24x7 water supply project, designed for the NW area of the city, will draw water from the existing Narava water treatment plant. It aims to minimize non-revenue water and install tamper-proof water meters in households. 

The existing pre-stressed concrete pipeline network will be replaced with mild steel pipeline from Narava water treatment plant to Ramakrishnapuram. New ground-level reservoirs and elevated level service reservoirs will be constructed to facilitate 24x7 water supply.

A Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system will be implemented for effective management of water supply in the northwest sector.

According to the ADB's report, approximately 265 km is covered by the distribution network in the northwest sector of the city, leaving 43 km out of the distribution fold. The project aims to include all colonies in the area into the 24x7 water supply network.

For More Updates: Follow Us https://www.instagram.com/hellovizag.in/