GVMC asks 60 gated communities, commercial establishments to shift to municipal water supply

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has asked around 60 large gated communities and commercial establishments that rely on borewells or unauthorised private water tankers to shift to the municipal water supply network.

GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg issued the direction during an inspection of the Yendada Reservoir area on Sunday to review the city’s water-supply infrastructure. Superintending Engineer (Water Supply) Pallam Raju and Executive Engineers Sudhakar and Muralikrishna accompanied him.

Garg asked eligible residential complexes and commercial establishments to apply for dedicated bulk water connections linked to the nearest elevated service reservoirs or sumps. The connections will be provided after payment of the applicable charges, and the applications are expected to be processed within three months, he said.

The civic body currently has 135 bulk water connections and more than 8,100 semi-bulk connections, supplying over one lakh kilolitres (KL) of water a day across the city.

“Drinking water supply remains a non-negotiable priority,” Garg said, directing officials to prepare a special action plan to ensure uninterrupted water distribution. He also assured residents that the city had adequate water available in its sources.

During the inspection, residents of MVV City Apartments complained of an acute shortage of water for household use, despite receiving some partially treated water. Garg directed engineering officials to expedite the pending application for a bulk water connection for the apartment complex.

The Commissioner also stressed the need to bring large consumers who depend on groundwater and private tankers into the regulated municipal water supply system.

Information on service protocols, tanker schedules, and procedures for applying for bulk, semi-bulk, and regular water connections is available on the official GVMC portal.