Overview
Visakhapatnam’s municipal water supply looks stable because the Yeleru reservoir, Godavari river and other reservoirs are full. However, groundwater levels in fast‑growing suburbs have dropped sharply, threatening long‑term water security.
Key Developments
- Groundwater in Yendada reached 30.37 m below ground level (mbgl), the deepest in the district.
- Builders are drilling borewells up to 500 ft, pulling water from deeper aquifers and causing nearby shallow wells to dry out.
- Water‑tanker trips in the Yendada‑Madhurawada corridor peaked at 500 per day, far above the normal 250 trips.
- The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) proposes a 65 MLD supply scheme for the next 25‑30 years.
- The state’s Jaladhara programme has identified 135 villages for recharge measures.
Important Facts
Data from the APWRIMS (as of 2 July 2026) shows:
- Groundwater depth: Arilova 31.69 mbgl, Yendada 28.73 mbgl, Madhurawada 27.23 mbgl, Pedda Rushikonda 23.12 mbgl, YSR Park 16.52 mbgl, Visalakshinagar 14.54 mbgl, Marikavalasa 11.72 mbgl.
- Mandals average depth: Visakhapatnam (Rural) 20.43 mbgl, Maharanipeta 9.97 mbgl, Anandapuram 9.38 mbgl, Gajuwaka 8.88 mbgl, Visakhapatnam Urban 8.79 mbgl, Pendurthi 8.51 mbgl.
- Immediate deficit in northern suburbs: **10 MLD**.
- Proposed storage: **5 TMC** (thousand million cubic feet) of dedicated drinking‑water reservoirs.
Exam Relevance
The situation illustrates several themes in the UPSC syllabus:
- Urban water management – the clash between rapid real‑estate growth and sustainable water supply (GS3: Environment, GS4: Governance).
- Groundwater recharge – importance of rainwater harvesting, recharge pits and watershed management (GS3: Environment).
- Policy implementation – challenges in enforcing building‑rule mandates and coordinating multi‑agency programmes like Jaladhara (GS3: Governance).
- Infrastructure planning – need for long‑term storage and synchronized civic services (GS3: Infrastructure, GS4: Governance).
Way Forward
Experts suggest a multi‑pronged approach:
- Enhance recharge: Enforce mandatory recharge pits, promote rooftop rainwater harvesting, and desilt existing tanks.
- Regulate borewell drilling: Impose depth limits, monitor extraction, and penalise over‑drilling.
- Increase storage: Allocate government land for new reservoirs capable of holding at least **5 TMC** of water.
- Integrate services: Align water pipelines, sewerage and drainage upgrades with new housing projects; conduct periodic infrastructure audits.
- Community participation: Encourage residents and builders to adopt rainwater harvesting and report illegal drilling.
Addressing groundwater stress now will prevent future water scarcity, reduce flash‑flood risk, and ensure sustainable urban growth for Visakhapatnam.