Will expand ‘magic drain’ system to more areas, says Vizag District Collector

The functioning of the ‘magic drain,’ an eco-friendly drainage system project in Andhra Pradesh is being studied in Visakhapatnam.

The district administration, which is running the pilot project at two places – Reddipalli in Padmanabham mandal and S.R. Puram in Pendurthi mandal, have decided to implement the same in other places, based on the final outcome.

District Collector M. N. Harendhira Prasad in a release on Thursday said that the government has launched the project to improve sanitation in rural areas. The main purpose is to prevent wastewater stagnation, foul smells, and mosquito breeding, thereby reducing seasonal diseases. In ‘magic drains’, the water seeps into the ground where it is released.

The Collector also recalled that during the recent ‘Montha’ cyclone, traditional drains were found overflowing and blocked, but the ‘magic drains’ in Reddipalli and S.R. Puram functioned without any issues.

“While constructing 100 metre of a traditional drain costs nearly ₹4 lakh, constructing a 100 metre magic drain costs only ₹68,000 to ₹78,000. In SR Puram and Reddipalli about 200 metre long drains were built,” he said. He further added that the ‘magic drains’ are particularly suitable for areas with red and gravel soil, showing 100% positive results.

Project director, District Water Management Agency (DWAMA), Poornima Devi, said that initially the villagers demanded traditional cement drains, but after officials explained the benefits of ‘magic drains,’ they cooperated. Now, after seeing their performance, they are fully satisfied.

Mr. Harendhira Prasad said that presently the results are being analysed. If everything works out well, these ‘magic drains’ will be introduced in other areas also.