GVMC Cracks Down on Illegal Groundwater Use

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) on Tuesday launched a crackdown on hospitals in Arilova Health City over the alleged unauthorised extraction of groundwater, following complaints that excessive pumping through borewells was disrupting the drinking water supply to nearby residential colonies.

During surprise inspections, GVMC officials found that several hospitals, despite having bulk water connections from the civic body, were not using them. Instead, they were drawing large quantities of groundwater through borewells. The inspections also revealed that some hospitals had not obtained GVMC bulk water connections and were relying entirely on groundwater extracted without the necessary permissions.

GVMC Superintending Engineer (Water Supply) Pallam Raju said the unauthorised extraction of groundwater had emerged as a major factor contributing to drinking water shortages in the surrounding localities.

He said notices had been served on the managements of the hospitals concerned, directing them to obtain GVMC bulk water connections within seven days and immediately stop extracting or using groundwater through borewells without the required permissions.

Stating that ensuring an uninterrupted supply of safe drinking water to the public remained one of the GVMC’s top priorities, Mr. Raju said the civic body would continue surprise inspections at hospitals, commercial establishments, and other institutions suspected of illegally extracting groundwater in violation of government regulations.

He warned that stringent legal action would be initiated against institutions that failed to comply with the notices and continued to violate the norms. He added that the GVMC would not tolerate any activity that compromised the public drinking water supply.