Hyderabad, September 17: Gates of Osman Sagar also known as Gandipet, which supplies drinking water to the twin cities Hyderabad and Secunderabad, has been lifted the day before, after a gap of 10 years, to release surplus water.
Osman Sagar gates were earlier lifted in August 2000. About more than 500 cusec surplus water was released from Gandipet at that time. Now after the span of 10 years again as the water level reached the full tank level Water board has lifted the gates and began the release of surplus water.
According to water supply board officials 480 cusec water is planned to be released. If the Osman Sagar receives more inflows in the night, through the rains in its catchment areas then more water could be released.
Reports of the water of Gandipet reservoir reaching full tank level and the possibility of the water to be released were being received for two days, yet no precautionary measures had been taken by city administration. Hut-dwellers living on the banks of the river Musi are in peril. They are at risk of heavy losses as the water is released into river Musi.
According to the report of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, the decision to lift gates upto two feet was taken after the water level reached 1790 ft in Osman Sagar, more gates would be opened in case of further rain. Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has alerted the families living in low-lying areas near the Musi to move to safer places.
However it is the responsibility of District Administration to make arrangements to evacuate people living in low-lying areas near the Musi and move them to safer places by setting up camps for them, but this time no such arrangement were made by the district administration, due to which there is a risk of heavy losses.
MBT corporator, Mr Amjad ullah Khan Khalid strongly criticizing district administration and Municipal Corporation said, ‘special precautionary measures are taken in the areas near Musi River before gates of Gandipet reservoir are lifted. The government authorities have proved their inefficiency by not doing so.’ Mr Amjad Ullah Khan stated ‘22 people were died in the year 2000 due to negligence like this, but officially only 12 deaths were announced.’
He told before lifting of gates neither District Collector nor Commissioner of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation visited the low lying areas near Musi River. It is told that cleaning of garbage and mud has also not been done before the release of water due to which there is a danger of water being clogged. Late night Mr. Amjad Ullah Khan and other officials camped on the Chaderghat Bridge to help out in case of any mishap.
——-Siasat News