Visakhapatnam Seeks ₹23,000 Crore For Water Storage Amid Data Centre Boom

Visakhapatnam is facing a potential water-supply challenge as the city prepares for rapid growth in data centres and new industrial activity. The city currently has the capacity to store about 32 tmc ft of water, but its requirement is projected to exceed 60 tmc ft within a few years. The anticipated shortfall has prompted the Vizag Development Council to propose a major expansion of water-storage infrastructure to the Andhra Pradesh government.

The council has submitted a proposal to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu seeking between ₹15,000 crore and ₹23,000 crore for the proposed projects. The plan is aimed at ensuring that Visakhapatnam has adequate water resources to support its expanding industrial base and the growing demand expected from data centres and other new developments.

Under the proposal, the Yeleru reservoir would be expanded by 10 to 15 tmc ft. In addition, five balancing reservoirs, each with a capacity of about 5 tmc ft, have been proposed. The reservoirs would require land of up to 12,500 acres and are expected to be supplied with water through the Polavaram Left Main Canal.

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The proposed investment reflects the scale of the infrastructure required to meet the city's future water needs. Data centres and industrial facilities can require substantial and dependable water supplies, making storage capacity an important component of long-term planning. The proposed reservoirs are intended to provide additional reserves and help bridge the gap between the city's existing storage capacity and its projected requirement.

The issue has also received political attention, with Telugu Desam Party State president and Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao saying he is pursuing the proposal with the Chief Minister. The demand comes as Visakhapatnam seeks to attract large-scale investments while addressing concerns over the availability of basic infrastructure, including water.

The proposed ₹23,000-crore investment therefore represents not only a water-storage project but also a measure intended to support the city's wider economic expansion. With existing storage estimated at around 32 tmc ft against a projected requirement of more than 60 tmc ft, authorities face the task of creating additional capacity before demand rises sharply. The proposed Yeleru expansion and balancing reservoirs are being presented as key components of that long-term strategy.

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