Major Plan for Visakhapatnam’s Future Water Needs

Visakhapatnam may require an investment of up to ₹23,000 crore to meet its future water needs amid the city’s expected growth as a technology and industrial hub. A proposal submitted to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu seeks large-scale investment in water-storage infrastructure. The city currently has around 32 TMC ft of storage capacity, while its requirement is expected to exceed 60 TMC ft in the coming years due to the expansion of data centres, industries and other major projects.

The proposal includes expanding the Yeleru reservoir by 10–15 TMC ft and constructing five new balancing reservoirs, each with a capacity of around 5 TMC ft. The projects may require up to 12,500 acres of land and are proposed to receive water through the Polavaram Left Main Canal. The overall plan is estimated to cost between ₹15,000 crore and ₹23,000 crore. TDP State president and Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao is reportedly pursuing the proposal with the Chief Minister. The plan aims to create additional water reserves for residents, industries and upcoming projects while addressing concerns over the water requirements of the proposed data centre boom.