Hyderabad, June 10: Denizens of Greater Hyderabad and surrouding areas will now have to get accustomed to less supply of drinking water. Instead of the existing two hours of water supply, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has already started reducing the supply time by 15 minutes with effect from June 7.
Chief Minister K Rosaiah also approved the decision of the officials as the quality of Osmansagar reservoir has become a matter of concern. Health Minister D Nagender and BC Welfare Minister M Mukesh Goud revealed that the decision was taken as the water quality in Osmansagar reservoir was deteriorating apart from depleting water levels in Gandipet and other reservoirs.
“As the water quality of Osmansagar has deteriorated, experts suggested to stop the drawls till the fresh inflows received. Reduction of water supply will be from the existing 90 minutes to one hour in some areas and one hour to 45 minutes in other areas on every alternate day to rationalise supply in the entire Greater Hyderabad area,” said Nagender. The officials informed that there is enough water to be supplied in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area till September. Consultations are being made to install Activated Carbon Filters to improve the quality of water up to 5.0 MGD.
However, the Chief Minister wanted them to prepare a detailed action plan and explore alternative sources including drawing additional drinking water from Krishna river. The officials were asked to address all grievances from public on daytoday basis. Rosaiah asked the officials to make all efforts to ensure adequate water supply to twin cities and identify alternative sources for drinking water supply. Works are in progress to divert 5 MGD water to Alwal, Malkajgiri areas by pumping Krishna Water from Moulali to Alwal.
The officials informed to the Chief Minister that about 350 MGD water is required to meet the requirements of the state capital, while the existing installed capacity from all sources for the city is 340 MGD. Thus, the officials are forced to impose marginal cut on water supply to villages on the city outskirts but expressed confidence that the problem will be solved soon as they took up repairs at leakages.
A new water treatment plant with the stateofart technology will be constructed near Osmansagar dam with an estimated Rs 100 crore and convey the treated water through closed pipeline instead of open channel. An integrated distribution network for inter transfer of water from one system to another will be developed to reduce the impact of failure of the any one source.
——Agencies