The Instagram account of the citizen-led ‘Stop Vizag Data Centers’ campaign has been temporarily restricted in India, with the account currently unavailable to users in the country while remaining accessible in other countries, according to representatives of the movement. They alleged that the restriction process lacked prior deliberation.

Following the action, the movement has announced a backup Instagram account to continue posting.

A message displayed on the restricted account says: “We temporarily restricted access to this account pursuant to legal requirements under India’s Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules.”

Campaign representatives said that nine posts had been restricted in India in the weeks preceding the account-level action. The account had garnered more than 56 lakh views and 11,800 followers within two months. The movement has raised concerns over the development of AI data centres in and around Visakhapatnam, citing what it describes as a lack of transparency and socio-ecological costs associated with such projects.

The representatives alleged that content critical of the AI data centres posted by various organisations and through personal accounts had also been restricted. The representatives said the account-level restriction was the first such action against it and demanded that Meta restore the account.

Pragathi, an engineering student who attended a public awareness programme held on the potential impacts of large-scale AI data centres on water resources, electricity demand and local temperatures along Beach Road in Visakhapatnam on Sunday said: “After we created the ‘Stop Vizag Data Centers’ page to raise the voice of the people, our account was banned on Saturday (September 19) and all our reels were removed. If the Google data centre has genuine advantages, why is the government unable to answer the people’s questions? Why is it trying to silence our voices? We will continue to stand up for the people of Vizag and oppose the data centre project. We want justice.”

The event was conducted by Green Visakha, an environmental NGO with participation from student organisation. The organisation represetatives said the programme was aimed at creating public awareness about the responsible and sustainable use of natural resources and the potential impact of such projects on the ecosystem and biodiversity.

“Today (Sunday), we held a demonstration against the rapid expansion of data centres. We also conducted an awareness campaign by distributing pamphlets and speaking to people about the potential environmental and other impacts of such projects. We had over 11,000 followers, more than 56 lakh views and good engagement, besides a network of volunteers. By repeatedly taking down our posts, our content is being restricted and our dissent is being curtailed,” said Deeksha Vanguru, member of ‘Stop Vizag Data Centers.’

Apartments, gated communities and residential complexes across the city are increasingly depending on water tankers to meet their daily needs as irregular municipal water supply and falling groundwater levels leave residents struggling to meet their daily needs.

The situation is particularly acute in the rapidly developing Madhurawada region, where several residential communities are receiving Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) water only once every two or three days. Borewells that once supplemented supplies are also drying up, forcing residents to buy water from private suppliers.

The rainfall deficit this year and low water levels in reservoirs have aggravated the situation, prompting apartment associations to hold emergency meetings and introduce measures to ration water. Several communities are urging residents to restrict consumption to essential needs and are looking at strengthening rainwater harvesting systems.

At Rohith Empire in Madhurawada, which has 40 flats, municipal water is being supplied once every two to three days, said its secretary Govardhana Naidu. “The 300-foot borewells have almost dried up, leaving residents dependent on two 20,000-litre tankers a week,” he added.

“The additional expenditure on tankers is more than ₹20,000 a month. We have also tried the GVMC helpline for tanker supplies, but the response has been mixed. On one occasion, the GVMC called back after nearly 24 hours, by which time we had already arranged a private tanker,” he said.

At Haritha Apartments near IT Hills Junction, the problem is on a much larger scale. Resident Govinda Rao said the complex has 710 flats in 11 blocks and receives municipal water once every two to three days.

“We are procuring tankers of 10,000 to 20,000 litres almost every two days,” he said.

At Lansum Greens in Madhavadhara, two of the five borewells have dried up, said resident and consultant engineer specialising in infrastructure and fire safety, Krishnamurthy Somayajula.

“We have 280 apartments and are getting bulk water from the GVMC, for which we are paying around ₹2 lakh a month. Rapid construction has turned the city into a concrete jungle, while this year’s rainfall deficit has further depleted groundwater,” he said.

Mr. Somayajula said rainwater harvesting should be made mandatory for buildings to improve groundwater recharge and reduce dependence on external water sources.

Some communities that recently faced acute shortages have seen improvement following GVMC intervention. Residents of MVV City in PM Palem staged a protest last week demanding action on the water shortage.

A resident said the situation had eased after the GVMC began supplying nearly 200 kilolitres of bulk water a day through tankers. Borewells and a few private tankers are being used to meet the remaining demand.

“The situation had become difficult earlier as private tankers had stopped coming. There is no major problem at present as the GVMC has been supplying bulk water,” the resident said.

At Oxygen Towers in Seethammadhara, residents are not facing an immediate shortage, but have been advised to use water cautiously.

Dr. James Adams, Director of Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, Vizag, and a resident, said, “As of now, we are not facing a shortage of water, but everyone has been asked to use water cautiously”

Visakhapatnam Apartment Resident Welfare Association (VARWA) has already organised protests over the issue. Its secretary BB Ganesh said the authorities should have anticipated the situation and planned for the shortage in advance.

Mr KSR Murthy from AP Federation of Resident Welfare Association (APFERWAS) said the crisis highlighted the urgent need for water conservation, particularly rainwater harvesting, as the city’s built-up area continues to expand.

The ongoing drinking water crisis is set to take centre-stage during Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s proposed visit to Visakhapatnam on September 19. Local leaders are preparing to seek a comprehensive, long-term strategy from the Chief Minister to strengthen water storage and ensure water security for the city.

Speaking to The Hindu, TDP State president and Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao said: ”Yes, we are preparing to bring Vizag’s water issue to the notice of the CM during his visit to the city on September 19. There will be a possible meeting with all the major stakeholders.”

Highlighting a shift in planning he said; “Back in 2004, there was a proposal to spend ₹3,000 crore on building a pipeline from the Yeleru canal to prevent water evaporation, and reduce frequent desilting works. However, now our priority has changed. We want to invest such large amounts to creating dedicated water storage points for the city. This point will also be discussed in the meeting with the Chief Minister.”

History of vulnerability

Visakhapatnam has long faced recurring water shortages due to its heavy reliance on the erratic monsoon cycles. Because the city lacks perennial river sources within its immediate basin, a failed southwest monsoon regularly dries up local tanks like Meghadrigedda, triggering intense panic. This vulnerability was visible during the 2004–2006 drought, which forced prolonged rationing and left residents heavily reliant on erratic tanker supplies. Furthermore, rapid industrialisation—anchored by heavyweights like the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant—have increased pressure on the available water resources, leaving residential areas to bear the brunt of dry taps.

The 2027 Godavari Roadmap

To break the cycle of recurring water shortages, State authorities have mapped out an ambitious plan to bring the Godavari River water to Visakhapatnam via the Polavaram Left Main Canal by 2027. However, public skepticism remains high regarding its practical execution. Irrigation experts have also highlight strict hydraulic constraints that must be managed. Lift irrigation operations can only function effectively when the Godavari water level reaches a minimum height of 14 metres. Managing these minimum flow thresholds during lean periods is essential to keeping the inter-basin transfer project reliable and operational year-round.

Building a decentralised storage grid

Experts agree that long-distance canal transfers alone cannot secure urban taps without local retention systems. To solve this, officials have outlined a decentralised storage network across both sides of the Polavaram Left Main Canal.

This planned 27 TMC storage grid requires the integration of key storage nodes including—Tallapalem, Rangupolugedda, and Seshugedda in Yelamanchili, Cheedikada in Nakkapalli, Krishnapalem in Achyuthapuram, and urban reservoirs like Gambheram and Meghadrigedda.

According to irrigation officials, “The 2027 vision is a conditional equation. It will only succeed if lift thresholds, canal linkages, and the proposed 27 TMC storage grid are properly synchronised.”

Criticising the NDA Government for allegedly failing to resolve drinking water crisis in the city, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has warned that it would surround the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) office on Monday (September 21), if the drinking water crisis was not resolved within four days.

Visakhapatnam district YSRCP president K.K. Raju and other leaders toured Lakshmivanipalem, RH Colony, in Ward 6 and Masjid area in Ward 26. The leaders interacted with the locals about the water supply. They enquired about the duration of water supply, shortage, frequency, and quality.

Later, addressing a press conference, Mr. Raju said that the city was witnessing one of its worst drinking water crises in recent years. He Many areas especially in Madhurawada zone, affected due to the shortages. He alleged that poor residents were suffering from irregular water supply, and many are forced to pay exorbitant prices for drinking water to private water tankers.

He add that the authorities should have assessed the availability of water in the Meghadrigedda, Raiwada and Gambheeram reservoirs well in advance and planned for the city’s requirements.

Mr. Raju also questioned the government’s priorities, alleging that it was focusing on corporate investments and major projects while residents were struggling to secure drinking water.

“Development is necessary, but the government must first ensure basic necessities for the people. It is meaningless to talk about major investments and projects when residents of Visakhapatnam are struggling even for drinking water,” he said.

Unntreated wastewater and urban drainage streaming directly onto the iconic Ramakrishna (RK) beach have reignited serious environmental concerns among citizens, morning walkers, and environmental observers in Visakhapatnam.

Recent heavy spells and continuous showers exacerbated by low-pressure systems forming over the Bay of Bengal have triggered widespread urban runoff across the city. These downpours swell open storm-water drains and low-capacity underground drainage channels, causing untreated sewage and accumulated litter to breach protective barriers and spill directly onto prominent coastal stretches like RK Beach.

The discoloured water cutting across the sand and emptying straight into the Bay of Bengal, leaving dark patches on the shoreline and carrying accumulated litter along the tidal stretch.

Regular visitors to the coast have repeatedly voiced dismay over how urban run-off and sewage outlets continue to compromise the aesthetic and ecological health of the city’s premier tourist destination.

While civic authorities have previously outlined plans to plug and divert major open drains to Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under upgraded underground drainage (UGD) networks, gaps in field-level execution remain a persistent issue.

Municipal administration leadership has stressed that rigorous interventions are vital to ensure that untreated municipal waste does not breach the coastline, yet citizens point out that immediate countermeasures are urgently required to protect marine life and public health along the Vizag littoral zone

Speaking to The Hindu, GVMC superintending engineer (water supply & UGD projects) Ch. Yedukondalu said, “GVMC is currently working on diversion of certain Strom water drains linking with the sewerage treatment plants. The issue will be resolved soon”.

Markets across Visakhapatnam witnessed heavy rush on Sunday as residents made last-minute purchases of flowers, fruits, puja materials, decorative items and Ganesh idols ahead of Vinayaka Chavithi celebrations.

Major markets, including Poorna Market, Old Gajuwaka, Akkayyapalem, China Waltair, and Duvvada remained crowded throughout the day. The Anandapuram flower market also witnessed a rush, as a large number of people arrived to purchase flowers and other puja requirements, leading to heavy traffic congestion in the vicinity.

Flowers, fruits and decorative leaves were among the major purchases made by people. Vendors reported brisk business. However, some customers said that prices of fruits and flowers had increased, ahead of the festival.

Clay and Plaster-of-Paris Ganesh idols were available at various locations, with prices ranging from ₹50 to ₹5,000. Decorative umbrellas, which have become a popular item for adorning homes and Ganesh pandals, were among the sought-after items. Vendors were selling the colourful umbrellas at around ₹30 each.

Several roads and commercial areas remained relatively deserted in the afternoon as people stayed indoors amid the weather conditions. However, activity picked up in the evening as families and organisers of community pandals visited idol-making and sales points to select Ganesh idols and were seen transporting idols to their homes and pandals.

Rain affected preparations at some large Ganesh pandals in the morning, forcing organisers to slow down or temporarily halt final decoration works. However, as the rain subsided in the evening, workers and organisers stepped up preparations to ready the pandals for the celebrations.

Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Commissioner Ketan Garg has urged citizens and organisations with pending civic disputes to make use of the National Lok Adalat on Saturday, September 12, to settle cases.

Organised by the Visakhapatnam District Legal Services Authority, the Lok Adalat will begin at 9 a.m. today. Matters related to property tax, vacant land tax, D&O trade licences, water charges, and advertisement charges will be taken up for settlement through mutual consent, the GVMC official said.

Mr. Garg said: “This offers an invaluable opportunity to resolve long-standing issues across Revenue, Town Planning, and Public Health departments without the burden of repeated court visits or legal fees.”

The GVMC has designated the following court complexes zone-wise:

Visakhapatnam District Courts Complex: Madhurawada, East, West, South, North, and Pendurthi zones.

Anakapalli District Courts Complex: Anakapalli zone.

Gajuwaka Courts Complex: Gajuwaka and Aganampudi zones.

Bheemunipatnam Courts Complex: Bheemili zone.

Amid the ongoing drinking water crisis in Visakhapatnam city, MP M. Sribharat along with the MLAs of all constituencies reviewed the water supply situation in various parts of the city at a review meeting at the VMRDA office on Friday.

The meeting reviewed the available water sources, existing reservoir levels, the present water supply system, and the preparedness measures required to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply until the next monsoon.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Mr. Sribharat said that the storage levels in the city’s rain-fed reservoirs, including Raiwada, Meghadrigedda and Tatipudi, had declined due to deficient rainfall, which he attributed to the El Nino effect.

He said: “Nearly 60% of Visakhapatnam’s water supply is sourced from the Yeleru water system. Special efforts are being made to improve the availability and transmission of water from Yeleru.”

Silt accumulated in the Yeleru canal has reduced the flow of water. About 25% to 30% desilting work has already been completed. The remaining works would be expedited. Once desilting is completed, the canal is expected to facilitate a flow of around 600 cusecs, enabling maximum utilisation of the available Yeleru water for Visakhapatnam,” he said.

Mr. Sribharat said that through the Purushothapatnam Lift Irrigation Scheme, water would be diverted to Yeleru with the objective of building up storage to around 15 TMC by the end of October 2026.

According to the projections reviewed at the meeting, Visakhapatnam would require approximately additional 6.2 TMC water up to June 2027. Based on the available water resources and planned measures, steps are being taken to ensure that the city does not face a drinking water shortage, he added.

Officials informed the meeting that works related to the Polavaram Left Main Canal were being planned for completion up to Visakhapatnam by June 2027, which was expected to further strengthen the city’s long-term water security.

Officials also discussed the need to efficiently utilise the existing pipeline network to transfer water from Yeleru to different parts of the city, particularly when water availability in the rain-fed reservoirs like Thatipudi, Raiwada Mehadrigedda declines

The MP directed officials to identify water-stressed areas and establish effective alternative supply arrangements so that water can be provided immediately to affected localities..

Mr. Sribharat said that a responsive control system is being put in place to ensure immediate action on complaints related to water supply. He stressed that residents be provided with accurate and timely information about water supply disruptions, their causes and the alternative arrangements being made.

The meeting discussed measures to curb unauthorised groundwater extraction and indiscriminate use of groundwater. Officials were directed to take strict action against unauthorised borewells and excessive groundwater extraction. A special drive would be undertaken to prevent unauthorised groundwater use.

Mr. Sribharat also called for action against buildings involving plan deviations, and called for imposing penalties as per the applicable rules.

He appealed to citizens, individual house owners, commercial establishments, apartment complexes and institutions to make rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge an integral part of water conservation efforts.

MLAs Palla Srinivas, Vamsi Krishna Srinivas, Ganababu, Panchakarla Ramesh Babu, Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu, Konathala Ramakrishna were present.

Doctors from Apollo Hospitals, Visakhapatnam on Monday successfully treated a 35-year-old woman patient suffering from Achalasia Cardia, a condition that made swallowing food and liquids increasingly difficult, using an advanced technique called POEM (Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy).

The doctors said that Achalasia Cardia occurs when the valve connecting the food pipe to the stomach fails to relax, causing food to get stuck, leading to weight loss and chest discomfort. In POEM, doctors access the affected muscle through the mouth using an endoscope, avoiding any external cuts or scars on the body. The patient recovered quickly and was able to resume a normal diet within days of the procedure, said Dr Varun Teja, who performed the procedure.

Village and Ward Secretariat employees from North Andhra intensified their agitation on Sunday by staging a protest at the busy RTC Complex Junction, demanding that the State government immediately resolve their long-pending issues.

The protesters, affiliated with the Swarna Gramam Swarna Ward (SGSW), comprise of administrative and welfare staff working in Village and Ward Secretariats across the North Andhra zone. They had been staging a protest near the Gandhi statue opposite the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) building for the past few days. They shifted their agitation to the RTC Complex Junction on Sunday evening.

The protesters raised slogans—“Udyogam Chestham – Oodigam Cheyyam” (We will do our jobs, but will not work as servants)— and vigorously shook empty plastic water bottles as part of their demonstration, highlighting, what they described as unreasonable working conditions and long-pending grievances.

Revenue and police officials reached the spot and held discussions with the employees. ACP Lakshmana Murthy was also present as police personnel attempted to regulate traffic.

The officials assured the protesters that their demands would be taken up with the State government and brought to the notice of the concerned authorities. However, the protesters insisted that they wanted the government to take immediate steps to resolve their issues instead of merely forwarding their demands.

The agitation which began in the evening, continued till late into the night, affecting traffic on one of the city’s busiest junctions. Vehicles were seen piling up on the roads leading to and from the RTC Complex. A large number of police personnel were deployed to regulate traffic and ease congestion.

The employees said they would continue their agitation until the government took concrete measures to address their long-standing demands.

During their protest, the employees raised several demands concerning their pay, increments, probation, regularisation and service benefits. They demanded that two notional increments be sanctioned to them immediately. They also sought payment of the nine months’ arrears arising due to the delay in completion of probation. In addition, they demanded that one annual increment be granted for the period of delay in completion of probation.

The employees further demanded that their minimum basic pay be fixed at ₹30,000 per month without any reduction.