Guntur’s Water Infrastructure Gets a Facelift
In a move to boost Guntur’s urban water infrastructure, the Central government has given the green light for a whopping ₹363.23 crore under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0) scheme. This funding aims to enhance drinking water supply, with a special focus on three areas in the city that have been hit hard by water scarcity. The Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, spilled the beans to The Hindu on Monday, revealing that a hefty chunk of ₹331.10 crore will be pumped into building a dedicated pipeline to cater to the Gorantla area. Another ₹32.13 crore is set aside for supplying water to layouts downstream of the Amrut water point. And wait for it, an additional ₹258 crore is on the horizon for villages that recently joined forces with the city corporation.
Growing Population, Growing Pains
Mr. Chandra Sekhar highlighted the urgent need for these initiatives by pointing out the expected population surge in Guntur. The population, which was at 10.65 lakh in 2020, is projected to skyrocket to 14.81 lakh by 2041 and a jaw-dropping 24.5 lakh by 2056. That’s a whole lot of thirsty folks! To quench their thirst, the city’s water treatment capacity needs a major overhaul. Currently standing at 157 million litres per day (MLD), the city is already facing a demand of 169 MLD. And by 2056, brace yourselves, an extra 138 MLD will be needed to keep the taps running.
A Lifeline from the Krishna River
Under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme, the plan is to source water from the Krishna river and channel it directly to the Gorantla area through a spanking new pipeline. The grand plan includes a dual pumping system—one at the river intake and another at Gorantla—to ensure a smooth flow of water. The Minister couldn’t stop singing praises for Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, crediting him for this masterstroke. “This project isn’t just for now, it’s for the future generations to ensure they don’t go thirsty in Guntur,” he declared. He also gave a shoutout to Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Housing P. Narayana, IT Minister Nara Lokesh, and Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief K. Pawan Kalyan for having their backs in making this game-changing project a reality.
The Pipeline Saga Unfolds
The pipeline works are estimated to take a cool two years to wrap up. And get this, the agency in charge will also be responsible for a 10-year operations and maintenance gig to keep the water flowing like a smooth operator. So, it looks like Guntur’s water worries will soon be a thing of the past, thanks to some serious cash injection from the big shots. Now, all that’s left is to sit back, relax, and watch the water flow!
