Greens see red over neglect of Mudasarlova Reservoir

Visakhapatnam: Even as the government implements the ambitious Jaladhara–Jala Harathi water conservation programme across Andhra Pradesh to conserve ponds, tanks and water resources, serious concerns are being raised over the alleged neglect and encroachment of the historic Mudasarlova Reservoir, one of the major water resources supplying drinking water to Visakhapatnam city.

Water conservationists and residents expressed concern over the extent to which lands belonging to the reservoir are reportedly being allocated to various government departments despite ongoing efforts to rejuvenate water bodies spending crores of rupees as part of the Jaladhara–Jala Harathi endeavour statewide.

Citizens emphasised the urgent need to protect and strengthen the Mudasarlova Reservoir, situated amidst the hills of Visakhapatnam, and to safeguard the streams and catchment areas connected to it to further enhance its storage capacity and preserve the city’s long-term water security.

According to official records, the Mudasarlova Reservoir extends over 836.38 acres in Survey Nos. 26 and 27 of Mudasarlova village under Chinagadili Mandal in Visakhapatnam district. The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is entrusted with the management and protection of the reservoir and holds complete authority over all lands falling in its jurisdiction. Also, the GVMC Council passed a resolution on November 21, 2025, for the protection of reservoir lands and prevention of encroachments in the catchment areas.

However, water conservation activists have reportedly raised objections over the allocation of reservoir lands for the proposed New Railway Zone Office and for other purposes including recreation, road construction and government projects, which will adversely affect the reservoir’s catchment ecosystem.

Following a visit to the reservoir, Rajendra Singh, known as the waterman, expressed worry over the water body’s maintenance stating that all streams channeling fresh water from the hills were blocked and those flowing through colonies and heavily contaminated are entering the Mudasarlova Reservoir.

Flagging the encroachment implications earlier, Bolisetty Satyanarayana, national convener of Jal Biradari, demanded that the Mudasarlova Reservoir’s catchment area be declared a ‘no-construction’ zone to preserve the city’s ecological balance.

Likewise, former Jana Sena Party corporator P Murthy Yadav strongly opposed the GVMC Council resolution that proposed alternative land allotments to certain encroachers in the reservoir limits earlier. He asserted that, as per norms, compensation to displaced encroachers must be provided by the revenue department and not by the GVMC.

He demanded immediate withdrawal of the resolution which he termed as ‘illegal’ and cancellation of all proposals to allot lands to encroachers in the reservoir area.

Murthy Yadav stated that reallocating lands in the precincts of Mudasarlova Reservoir to encroachers would effectively amount to further encroachment upon the water resource itself.

He also alleged that a portion of the reservoir land presently remains under the control of the Simhachalam Devasthanam and urged the GVMC to immediately take possession of those lands in view of the larger public interest..

He further pointed out that the BRTS road had already been developed over portions of the Mudasarlova Reservoir lands and alleged that nearly 42 acres situated on the opposite side of the water resource road, which also belong to the reservoir, are presently witnessing large-scale excavation activities without GVMC Council’s approval.

He alleged that several private entities were carrying out operations in the area and demanded a comprehensive inquiry into such activities.

At a time when large-scale programmes are being led by both the Central and state governments to conserve water resources across Andhra Pradesh, people of Visakhapatnam urge the authorities concerned to accord top priority to safeguarding the Mudasarlova Reservoir, considering its immense importance to the city’s future water needs.