The Hindu Business Line : Vizag still waiting for Godavari waters

Mr A.K. Mukherjee of the A.K. Mukherjee & Co explaining to the Visakhapatnam District Collector, Mr Pravin Prakash, and the Municipal Commissioner, Mr N. Srikant, the delay in the construction of a filtration plant at Narava village to bring Godavari waters to Visakhapatnam city. - C.V. Subrahmanyam

Visakhapatnam , April 1

IT has been a long wait for Visakhapatnam citizens for Godavari waters and it is not yet clear whether the waters will quench their thirst at least during the coming summer.

However, the waters have already reached the Kanithi balancing reservoir near the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and are being supplied to the industrial units from January 1 this year.

The delay in the construction of the filtration plant at Narava village and laying the pipelines has attracted widespread criticism.

The Visakhapatnam municipal corporation is spending Rs 100 crore over these works. Five tmc ft of Godavari waters are being diverted from near Rajahmundry through the Yeleru Canal to meet the industrial needs and drinking water requirements of Visakhapatnam. Half of the water is meant for supply to citizens.

On Friday, the District Collector, Mr Pravin Prakash, visited the filtration plant site at Narava along with the Municipal Commissioner, Mr N. Srikant, and other officials.

The Collector questioned the contractor, Mr A.K. Mukherjee, of the Mukherjee & Co, on the causes for the delay. The contractor told the Collector that there was no prompt payment for the work, which had already been completed, resulting in the delay.

This was, however, contradicted by the municipal engineer, Mr Panduranga Rao.

The Collector instructed the Municipal Commissioner and other officials to sort out the issue and expedite the work. Later, he told reporters that the work on pipelines had almost been completed. All steps would be taken to finish the filtration plant as soon as possible.

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