Vijayawada: In a significant development, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 186 crore for a drinking water scheme in Guntur city. The Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) is preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to initiate the project. The funds will be utilized to provide drinking water to merged villages and suburban colonies.
GMC Commissioner Puli Srinivasulu has instructed the Public Health and civic engineering departments to draft comprehensive plans for the Centre’s approval. He confirmed that the funds, allocated through the Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF), will be used to expand water supply lines to areas such as Gorantla, Adavitakkellapadu, Tidco Housing, Rajeev Griha Kalpa, Reddipalem, Pedapalakaluru, Ankireddypalem, and Nallapadu.
Srinivasulu emphasized the importance of public consultation in finalizing the DPRs. “We are formulating a 30-year action plan to address the city’s growing water needs, factoring in population growth and infrastructure development in the Amaravati capital region,” he stated.
The commissioner highlighted the need to focus on suburban development, as many individuals working in Amaravati are likely to settle in neighboring cities like Guntur and Vijayawada. He noted that improving basic infrastructure, such as roads and water supply, would encourage horizontal city expansion, easing urban congestion and reducing pollution. “Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu has directed us to enhance civic amenities, including water supply, to support Amaravati’s sustainability,” he added.
During an inspection of the Tidco Housing Colony in Adavitakkellapadu, Srinivasulu urged officials to ensure consistent water supply and launched a sanitation drive to improve the area. He also stressed the importance of timely distribution of rations and pensions to the 1,300 families residing in the colony.
