A view of the Mehadrigedda reservoir in Visakhapatnam limits, where water levels crossed the 47-foot mark in September, echoing the same storage levels last recorded in 2017 September.
| Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK
The authorities concerned including Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and State Irrigation department are jointly working to restore the Mehadrigedda reservoir in Kamparapalem village in Visakhapatnam district, a primary water source serving household and industrial needs across the city.
To fight capacity loss caused by decades of sediment accumulation, the civic body has ordered a comparative study of 10-year water logs alongside high-precision drone surveys. The aerial mapping will identify silt distribution, pollution, canal blockages, and water theft across the basin.
Engineers are reviewing inflow data from feeder streams and tanks in Kotapadu and Sabbavaram areas. Current work involves inspecting spillway regulator mechanics and monitoring depletion rates against past hydrological cycles.
The survey findings will shape an execution plan for large-scale desilting and dredging. Combining digital topography with structural upgrades will help authorities restore lost storage, clear blocked channels, and prevent future drinking water shortages and urban flooding.
GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg confirmed that protection measures were initiated following a recent field inspection. “Our team is working on it,” he maintained
When contacted, GVMC Superintending Engineer (Water Supply) G.V. Pallam Raju stated that drone teams have gathered detailed aerial videos to inspect leaks and silt deposits. He noted that the reservoir’s water level currently stands at 47.7 feet against its full capacity of 61 feet – matching levels recorded in September 2017 (around 47 feet). If levels drop to 44 feet, operations must stop and the reservoir will close, he added.
“The GVMC currently draws 8.1 MGD (million gallons per day) from the source. Of this, 3 MGD covers domestic supply for residents across seven wards, including Malkapuram, while the remaining water feeds major industries like the HPCL Visakh Refinery. The reservoir’s catchment areas need at least 40 cm of rainfall to achieve full storage capacity. Based on the survey report and its suggestions, we will start the measures to restore its lost water-holding capacity” Mr. Raju noted.
Historical logs highlight recurring challenges from unpredictable monsoons. Drought years in 2018 and 2023 saw water storage drop below critical levels. Conversely, extreme weather has caused severe flooding; during Cyclone Gulab in September 2021, emergency discharges flooded low-lying residential areas, industrial zones, the Visakhapatnam International Airport, and INS Dega complexes.
Officially named the Sri Dronam Raju Satyanarayana Reservoir Scheme, the project was conceptualised in 1964 to supply the city, the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, and Hindustan Shipyard. Inaugurated on September 27, 1977, it collects runoff from Kotapadu, Sabbavaram, and Pendurthi.
Published – September 17, 2026 11:32 pm IST
