With Visakhapatnam’s reservoirs reaching satisfactory levels after the recent rains, builders and residents of apartment and commercial complexes have urged the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) to clear pending applications for bulk water connections. They said reliable municipal water supply would reduce dependence on groundwater and private water sources.

CREDAI Visakhapatnam president E. Ashok Kumar said GVMC collects bulk water charges from large residential complexes, high-rise buildings and commercial establishments during the plan approval process. However, some projects reportedly continue to wait for connections even after receiving occupancy certificates.

Ashok Kumar called for a fixed timeline for providing connections once the applicable charges have been paid. He also said large residential projects cannot rely entirely on groundwater, particularly amid concerns over declining water tables.

 

The issue comes as GVMC has also been encouraging large gated communities and commercial establishments to shift from borewells and unauthorised private tankers to the municipal water network. GVMC currently operates bulk and semi-bulk connections across the city and has been asking eligible establishments to obtain dedicated bulk pipeline connections.