Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said the State Government will take concrete and long-term measures to ensure that Visakhapatnam does not face drinking water shortage in the years to come, while stressing that adequate water availability is essential not only for residents but also for sustaining the city’s growing industrial and investment potential.
Addressing a public meeting at the ‘Pedalaku Pattabhishekam’ programme organised at the AU Engineering College Grounds here on Saturday, Mr. Naidu said the government was preparing an action plan to ensure adequate water supply to every locality and household in the city. He said the plan would take into account the growing water requirements of industries and major companies coming to Visakhapatnam.
Mr. Naidu said he held discussions with the municipal and district officials, and public representatives as well on the city’s drinking water situation and the measures required to address it.
“Visakhapatnam has everything. The only slight problem is availability of adequate water. It is the responsibility of the NDA government to ensure water to the city,” the Chief Minister said.
The government was working on interlinking rivers and had already completed projects such as Handri-Neeva, Velugonda and Polavaram Left Main Canal (LMC) works, he said. The Polavaram LMC would play a crucial role in meeting Visakhapatnam’s future water requirement, he said.
“Water will be brought to Visakhapatnam through the canal and efforts will also be made to link the system with the Vamsadhara river,” Mr. Naidu said.
“The government will lay the required pipeline network to ensure that water reaches every region and every household in Visakhapatnam. We are preparing an action plan,” he said.
The Chief Minister further said that Visakhapatnam was attracting investments across several sectors, including data centres, green hydrogen, pharmaceuticals, tourism and hospitality, and assured that the government was prepared to provide adequate water for the projects.
“The Polavaram LMC that brings about 2 tmc ft of water a day will significantly strengthen water security in the region,” he observed.
Referring to the deficit rainfall conditions triggered by El Nino, he said its impact was severe not just in Andhra Pradesh but the entire country. “There are no rains across the country. I have never seen such a situation in my life,” he said, and alleged that certain political parties were attempting to politicise the situation.
