The CPI(M) has urged the Andhra Pradesh government to take permanent measures to address Visakhapatnam’s drinking water shortage instead of relying on temporary measures such as the proposed ‘Jalaharathi’ programme.

At a media conference held at the CPI(M) district office, Yechury Bhavan, in Visakhapatnam on Monday, district secretary M. Jaggu Naidu said several areas of the city were receiving municipal water once in two or three days, while some areas were getting supplies for only about 30 minutes. “Visakhapatnam required 130 million gallons a day (mgd), against the present supply of 103 mgd,” he said.

District secretariat members R.K.S.V. Kumar, P. Mani, B. Jagan and V. Krishna Rao also participated in the meeting.

Mr. Naidu said the party’s representatives had inspected the Polavaram project on August 29 and alleged that key works, including the left canal, were still incomplete. He demanded that the government complete the project, construct summer storage reservoirs and expand the existing reservoir capacity to strengthen the city’s water security.

The CPI(M) also opposed the privatisation of water supply and distribution and urged the government to withdraw proposals to divert water for industrial use.