Old City Water Contaminated With E.Coli: MIM

Several MIM members in the Telangana Assembly on Thursday apprised the Speaker and the ruling Party on the irregular and insufficient drinking water supply and the amount of E.Coli bacteria in water bodies due to leaking pipelines in Old City.

MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi pointed out that Hyderabad, especially the Old City, was being neglected in matters of drinking water supply. He recalled that the pipelines that were laid during the erstwhile Nizam's regime were still in use causing leakages and damages frequently. This was causing E.Coli to infiltrate the water stream, causing severe health problems including gastroenteritis and urinary tract infection.

Owaisi pulled up the State government for allegedly blocking the Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar reservoirs which cater to the Old City, and stressed the need for bringing water to open the two reservoirs wholly by taking up the 4th phase of the Krishna river water project.

Replying to the concerns raised by them, Municipal Administration Minister K T Rama Rao elaborated on the preventive steps being taken up by the government to prevent water contamination, and said that a study was conducted during 2009-2010, which identified 991 km of pipelines that needed to be replaced at a cost of Rs. 1,152 crores. Out of the 991, 476 km length of pipelines were replaced between 2009 and '14.

"Further studies were undertaken between the years 2013 and 2014, and it was found that an additional 819 km length of old and defective pipelines needed replacement, pushing the total to 1,134 km, which covered the entire GHMC area. Of the 1,134, about 178 km of pipelines in vulnerable stretches had been replaced between 2013 and 2016. Of the remaining 1,156 km length of pipelines, the most leakage-prone pipes of AC, PVC, HDPE and GI pipes of about 691 km exist in peripheral circles are being replaced with the assistance of the HUDCO. The remaining length of 465 km, costing about Rs. 502 crores, is yet to be replaced. However, critical and vulnerable stretches are being replaced regularly," he added.

Recognizing that E.Coli is a major threat to water bodies in Hyderabad, the Minister also pointed out that the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) was being funded regularly to replace old or defective pipelines, and prevent the bacteria from forming. Contaminated regions along the pipeline were being identified periodically and cut-off for replacement, and meanwhile as a makeshift source, drinking water was being supplied via tankers, he added.

Rao recalled that the city had witnessed major developments and improvements in power supply, water supply and Law & Order, which was acknowledged by the fact that people elected TRS members in the GHMC polls as well.

The Municipal Administration Minister promised the State government would certainly ensure that sufficient and quality drinking water was being supplied to the citizens at all times.

Not satisfied with the Minister's assurances, the MIM members stood up in protest and claimed that the answer was insufficient and wanted a more elaborate reply. However the Speaker did not allow them and proceeded to take up the next question.

In a polite gesture, Rao walked up to Owaisi and pacified him to resume seat, and said that the matter could be discussed again in a different form. The Speaker said he would allow a short discussion on the subject if the members desired.