Visakhapatnam Steel Plant has been facing water problems for quite sometime and is pressing for the supply of more water to meet its needs. Some of the critical operations of the plant have been affected due to water scarcity, according to RINL officials.

Chairman and Managing Director, P. Madhusudan, recently met the Chief Minister and urged him to ensure adequate power and water for the plant.

Originally, in accordance with an agreement with the State Government, RINL was promised 73 MGD for the 3 mt plant. Though the plant's capacity has since been doubled, it is not getting enough water from the State Government.

RINL runs the plant by drawing 23-25 MGD from the Yeleru reservoir. The Kaniti Balancing Reservoir (KBR), which augments the water supply to the steel plant and its township, has stocks for 21 days.

According to RINL officials, the plant requires 35 MGD immediately for safe operations. Due to poor water supply some critical operations have been affected. By the year-end, RINL would require 45 MGD so that water levels are maintained for safe operations at the 6.3 mtpa plant.

For both the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation and RINL, supply from Yeleru canal has turned critical. VSP has been pressing for 32 mgd of water as against the 25 to 27 mgd being currently supplied. However, GVMC is not in a position to increase supply for a number of reasons. The Yeleru canal was closed for 75 days in January for repairs, and water was released for farmers in East Godavari in March and April following a Government memo, sources in GVMC say. On the other hand, GVMC cannot draw 27 mgd of water from Raiwada reservoir as in the past owing to diversion by farmers, particularly in the backdrop of the poor rainfall so far this season.

This year consumption by GVMC has increased gradually since April, when it drew 13 mgd, followed by 25 mgd in May and 27 mgd in June. The steel plant drew 23 mgd, 26 mgd and 25 mgd for the three months.

Another reason why the needs of the steel plant are not being fully met is the weak condition of the bunds of Yeleru Canal. “More water cannot be released because the bunds of the canal are weak and only 50 km of the canal is lined. If more water is released, the bunds may breach, disrupting supply for a few weeks,” says a senior GVMC official. If the bunds are strengthened, the carrying capacity can be increased by 10 to 15 per cent, thereby enabling supply of 32 mgd for VSP, it is learnt.

The Chief Secretary has convened a meeting later this week with the CMD of the steel plant, the District Collector, GVMC Commissioner and other officials, to discuss the issue and find a solution.

 

sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

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