Andhra Pradesh: Vijayawada taxpayers demand safe and reliable drinking water supply

Vijayawada. Vijayawada: The Vijayawada taxpayers’ association has urged the government to address the city’s water problem. They presented a two-pronged approach to tackle water pollution and ensure adequate supply. The association has demanded the city corporation to replace decades-old existing drinking water pipelines with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes.

The association’s general secretary M.V. Anjaneyulu highlighted the concern of contaminated water reaching households due to these old pipelines. Replacing them with HDPE pipes will ensure clean and safe water supply.

The association also stressed the need for a check dam below the Prakasam barrage. This dam with a storage capacity of 5 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) will significantly improve Vijayawada’s water security. Currently, the Prakasam barrage has only 3 TMC of water, which is less than the city’s requirements.

Anjaneyulu pointed out that Vijayawada, with a population of 14 lakh, requires about 2.70 TMC of water annually for domestic use alone. Additionally, commercial establishments such as industries, hospitals and educational institutions require a huge amount of water, taking the total requirement to 4.70 TMC – 5.70 TMC. The proposed check dam will bridge this gap and ensure reliable water supply for both domestic and commercial purposes. The taxpayers’ association has submitted a memorandum to the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) commissioner and sent letters to the chief minister, water resources minister and other key officials, advocating their immediate intervention.