The Mehadrigedda reservoir is a key water source serving Visakhapatnam’s domestic and industrial needs.
GVMC and the State Irrigation Department are jointly working on measures to restore its lost storage capacity.
Decades of sediment accumulation have reduced the reservoir’s effective water-holding capacity.
A comparative study of water levels and records from the past 10 years has been ordered.
High-precision drone surveys are being used to map silt deposits, possible leaks, pollution, blocked channels and other issues across the basin.
Officials are also reviewing inflows from feeder streams and tanks in the Kotapadu and Sabbavaram areas.
Engineers are inspecting the spillway regulator mechanisms and monitoring water depletion against historical patterns.
The survey findings are expected to form the basis for a larger desilting and dredging plan.
The reservoir’s current water level is reported at 47.7 feet, against its full capacity of 61 feet.
GVMC currently draws around 8.1 MGD from the reservoir, supplying domestic users as well as major industries.
Authorities aim to restore storage capacity, improve water security and reduce the risk of future shortages and urban flooding.