The water bodies in Visakhapatnam are not just undergoing degradation; they are facing an existential crisis. Environmentalists have observed that these bodies are heavily silted, overrun by invasive species, illegally fenced, and are being encroached upon and converted into plots. According to data from the Water Users Associations (WUAS), the GVMC had 105 farm ponds in Pendurthi, 14 in Gajuwaka, 172 in Anandapuram, 63 in Bheemili, and 128 in Padmanabhapuram. Shockingly, only 16 ponds contain minimal water, emphasizing the urgent need for immediate action.
Bolisetty Satyanarayana, an environmentalist and general secretary of the Jana Sena, has highlighted the severe impact of unplanned urbanization on these water bodies. He stated, “Urban water bodies and their drainage systems are suffering due to unplanned urbanization, facing threats such as encroachment, sewage disposal, groundwater depletion, lack of proper administrative frameworks, and insufficient community involvement.”
In July 2024, the Citizens’ Forum organized a discussion titled ‘Vizag’s endangered water bodies and how communities can help save and restore them’. During the talks, the rich water ecosystem of the city was emphasized. The Survey of India identified 179 water bodies within the GVMC limits back in 1970. Presently, as per the Survey of India’s toposheet, the GVMC comprises 179 water bodies, with 115 having updated statuses and 40 in need of urgent restoration. This underscores the vital role of the community in safeguarding and rejuvenating these essential resources.
With 98 wards divided into eight zones within the GVMC, the detrimental effects of urbanization are evident as Zones 3, 4, and 5 lack any water bodies, despite covering a significant portion of the city. While water bodies are well-recognized, springs also serve as crucial water sources. Springs are natural points where groundwater emerges from an aquifer to the earth’s surface, influenced by gravity and hydrostatic pressure.
Satyanarayana expressed concern that Visakhapatnam is losing its distinctive features, including springs in the hills of Simhachalam, Kambalakonda, and Yarada. These hill ranges within the GVMC area host numerous springs that form spring sheds. However, activities like stone quarrying, sand mining, deforestation, and changes in land use due to irregular rainfall have impeded rainwater infiltration, leading to the drying up of springs and reduced stream flows. Environmentalists note that while there were over 18 springs in the Simhachalam Hills in the past, locals now only observe a few such as Gangadhara, Naagadhara, and Saagidhara, which are nearly perennial.
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