A huge impounding reservoir is being constructed by Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt in Mantralayam to help the community in overcoming drinking water problems. The project is expected to provide a reliable source of drinking water to the world famous pilgrimage centre that has lakhs of devotees every year.
The proposed reservoir will be developed with ₹50 crore funding from HAL, Bengaluru for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project. It will be one of the major infrastructure projects in Mantralayam in recent years and it will meet the city’s water demand for decades to come.
According to the project details, the reservoir will be constructed on approximately 40 acres of land near the goshala (cow shelter) maintained by the Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) will ensure that the project is established according to scientific planning and modern engineering standards.
When it is completed, the reservoir will hold almost 49.613 million cubic feet of water, a major source of water storage for the temple town. The project has been designed with a long-term vision where the drinking water requirements of devotees and local people are to be met until 2057.
Mantralayam, situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in Andhra Pradesh, is one of the best pilgrimage places. The holy city comes into life with many lakhs of pilgrims each day and during festivals and special religious events. In this age of pilgrims coming to the shrine every year, we need drinking water to be safe for them.
A state-of-the-art water purification plant will also be provided as part of this project. The treatment plant will be able to supply over 20.67 lakh litres of purified drinking water every day so that pilgrims, temple workers, and residents are able to get clean and safe drinking water.
To ensure uninterrupted operations, modern infrastructure like a 160 kVA electricity connection and 160 HP high-capacity pump sets will be implemented for efficient water distribution. These advanced systems will allow pumping, purification, and water supply to be continuous in the pilgrimage town, even in times of peak demand.
A key meeting between HAL and senior members of the Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt is going to take place in Mantralayam, they said. The final discussions on the DPR and implementation roadmap will be held there. Construction work will start after all formalities are completed.
The initiative has been eagerly welcomed by devotees and local residents, many of whom have long faced water shortages, especially in summer and festive seasons when pilgrim numbers surge dramatically. The new reservoir will solve perennial drinking water shortages and will also greatly enhance the overall infrastructure available to visitors.
Apart from water security, the project is also expected to improve public health by providing access to purified drinking water. It will reduce reliance on temporary water supply arrangements and tanker services, instead being a more sustainable and environmentally responsible solution.
The project also shows the increasing role CSR initiatives play in infrastructure and community welfare. HAL’s role demonstrates how public sector enterprises can engage with religious organisations to meet the needs of the public sector and its billions of people.
Religious leaders and devotees have praised the Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt for being proactive in securing the future of Mantralayam’s water supply. They think the reservoir will be a legacy to the nation - and generations of pilgrims and the people living there - and a place for them to experience one of India’s most sacred places spiritually.
With the scientific planning of IIT experts, HAL funding, and the Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt's support, the reservoir project is on the way to become a milestone in the development of Mantralayam. Once operational, it is expected to be the solution to drinking water scarcity and ensure that the devotees who go to the holy shrine of Sri Raghavendra Swamy are able to be provided the right drinking water for decades to come.
