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December 23rd is a very special day for the people of Visakhapatnam. 120 years ago.. that is on 23 December 1901, the then expanding Visakhapatnam was first supplied with protected good water through a pipe system. Before that, people depended on water wells in all parts of Visakhapatnam. As the population grew and the town expanded, the municipal authorities improved the existing wells and dug new ones to meet the shortage. During summer and rainy seasons, temporary wells were dug on the banks of Dikes Pond near Turner’s Choultry and Nerellakoneru in present day Allipuram and many wells later turned dry.
4.21 lakh for the first time for protected fresh water supply proposal
From 1880, the then municipal authorities started thinking of a scheme to supply protected water. At that time Hanumantavaka Vagu alone seemed to be the only permanent source available near the city. This scheme in 1896-97 Rs. 4.21 lakhs was sanctioned at an estimate of which half was sanctioned as a grant from the Government and the rest as a loan. It was then agreed that the cushion would be repaid by the municipality at 4.25% over 30 years.
History buff and heritage conservationist Edward Paul of Vijjeswarapu told TV9 that it was decided then to dam the Hanumantavaka brook at Mudasarlova and create a reservoir with a catchment area of six square miles to store about 25 million cubic feet of water.
On December 23, 1910, tap water was first introduced
The public works department has taken up the construction of protected drinking water project. On December 23, 1901, the townspeople got their first taste of protected water. But the entire project took some more time to complete. Finally, on May 21, 1903, the water supply scheme was handed over to the municipality,” explained Paul.
A former shipping manager at Engineers India Limited told TV9 that Walther and Dondaparthi areas were initially not included in the scheme. As the height of Walther is higher than the Hanumanta brook, a pumping station has been constructed to pump water from the service reservoir. It was through this that protected water was supplied for the first time.
The municipality initially supplied water through public taps. Individual houses were initially not given tap connections. Wadhwa Rani in 1917 provided the necessary funds for the expansion of pipelines to the northern part of Allipuram, as well as to the Hindu crematorium. Later, institutions like King George Hospital, Government Hospital for Mental Care, Visakha Central Jail were provided with tap connections and water supply.
Currently, Visakhapatnam has developed as a Greater Municipal Corporation, the fastest growing city, Cosmo and Metro Politic City and has become a great city providing safe and clean water to around 25 lakh people. But the information that protected good water was provided through pipe system in this beautiful city as early as 1901 is surprising everyone.
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