Blueprint for Vizag’s water security may emerge during CM’s September 19 visit

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:29:00 +0000

An aerial view of the Mudasarlova Reservoir in Visakhapatnam with receding water levels amid a prolonged rainfall deficit.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO

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.”

Published – September 16, 2026 09:59 pm IST

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Water Shortage Feared As Snow Persistence In Hindu Kush Himalaya Hits Record Low

admin — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 21:30:42 +0000

Snow persistence dropped 17 per cent below normal in the Ganga basin.

New Delhi:

The Hindu Kush Himalaya is experiencing significantly lower snow persistence this year, raising serious concern over water security for downstream communities, according to a new report.

Leading experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), a Nepal-based intergovernmental organisation, have urged water management officials to initiate drought management strategies and preemptive emergency water supply measures.

The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region heavily depends on the cryosphere — frozen water on the Earth’s surface, including snow, permafrost, and ice from glaciers, lakes and rivers. This frozen water is a critical source of freshwater for around 240 million (24 crore) people living in the HKH region and has far-reaching benefits for around 1.65 billion (165 crore) people downstream.

Snowmelt accounts for around 23 per cent of the total water flow of 12 major river basins originating in the HKH. However, its contribution varies from river to river, representing 74 per cent of the Amu Darya’s flow, 77 per cent of the Helmand’s flow, and 40 per cent of the Indus’ flow.

Monitoring shows snow levels are almost a fifth below normal across the region this year, with the most dramatic declines in the west, where its contribution to water supply is the highest.

Snow persistence dropped 17 per cent below normal in the Ganga basin and 14.6 per cent below normal in the Brahmaputra basin, said the Snow Update Report – 2024, released on Monday.

The Helmand river basin shows the most significant drop in snow persistence at 31.8 per cent below normal. Its previous lowest level was in 2018, with a 42 per cent reduction.

The Indus basin has fallen to 23.3 per cent below normal, the lowest level in 22 years. The previous lowest year for this basin was 2018, with a 9.4 per cent shortfall. The Mekong basin had the smallest variation from normal, with snow persistence around 1 per cent below normal.

“We have seen a pattern of decreasing amounts and persistence of snow across the Hindu Kush Himalaya, with 13 of the past 22 years registering lower-than-normal seasonal snow persistence,” said ICIMOD cryosphere specialist Sher Muhammad, who is also author of the report.

“This is a wake-up call for researchers, policymakers and downstream communities. Lower snow accumulation and fluctuating snow levels pose a serious increased risk of water shortages, particularly this year,” he said.

Miriam Jackson, ICIMOD’s senior cryosphere specialist, said agencies must take proactive steps to address possible drought situations, especially in early summer. “Plans must be updated to accommodate water stress, and communities need to be notified of the risks.” “Beyond that, it’s clear that governments and people in this region need urgent support to adapt to changes in snow patterns that carbon emissions have already locked in. G20 countries need to cut emissions faster than ever before to prevent even more changes that could prove disastrous to major population centres and industries reliant on snowmelt in the mountains,” she said.

The experts said promoting rainwater harvesting and establishing local water committees may help mitigate the immediate impacts of below-normal snowfall on the water supply in the HKH region.

However, to ensure long-term resilience to climate change, countries sharing trans-boundary rivers must collaborate to update their water management laws. Such actions are crucial to addressing water shortages in south Asia, which relies on snowmelt, they said.