Hyderabad: The two major sources of the twin cities’ drinking water, Osmansagar and Himayatsagar are being infested with algae and gradually losing its purity. Since the two sources have been constructed, they are serving lakhs of people in Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
Algal growth has now spread on the shores of lakes as the water has remained stagnated and unused for long after Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) took up Krishna and Godavari projects and the two sources were given a back seat in 2016. According to a report by Times of India, the HMWSSB, which controls the lakes, has not released water downstream in the last 18 months.
“We have stored the water in the lakes for future needs, particularly in cases of emergency. If the supplies from Godavari and Krishna sources go dry, we will bank on Osmansagar and Himayatsagar lakes to meet the demand,” a senior official of the water board said.
While doctors say that algal growth in water bodies could cause health issues if people drink it and even if they come in contact with this water. Some experts said that water in lakes should be aerated and remain in constant circulation to avoid stagnation that would result in the growth of unwanted vegetation and foul smell.