Visakhapatnam: Former Jana Sena corporator Peethala Murthy Yadav has called upon authorities to safeguard the Mudasarlova reservoir in Visakhapatnam. During the weekly grievance programme on Monday, he submitted a representation to GVMC commissioner Ketan Garg. Speaking to the media on this occasion, Murthy highlighted that while the central and state governments are investing substantial sums to revive ponds, tanks, and other water bodies, the Mudasarlova reservoir is facing large-scale encroachments.
Need for Conservation
According to Murthy, the reservoir, which is naturally formed between hills, must be protected and strengthened. He emphasized the urgent need to conserve the feeder channels flowing into the reservoir and improve its storage capacity. Government records indicate that the reservoir spans 836.38 acres. The GVMC, which manages the reservoir, holds full authority over the lands within its limits. The GVMC council had already passed a resolution in 2025 for the protection of the reservoir lands. Murthy urged the authorities to implement this resolution immediately.
Allegations of Land Allotment
Murthy alleged that lands within the reservoir area have been allotted for various purposes, including a railway zonal office, recreation projects, roads, and other government requirements. He expressed concern that such allotments could damage the catchment area and reduce the reservoir's capacity. He further stated that compensation for removal of encroachments should be handled by the revenue department as per rules, and allocating GVMC land as compensation would be against regulations. He urged the authorities to cancel the resolution and withdraw proposals to allot reservoir land to encroachers.
