KTR Denies Water Supply Crisis In Hyderabad

Telangana Minister for Municipal Administration K T Rama Rao today dispelled apprehensions about a looming water supply crisis in Hyderabad, claiming that there were sufficient quantities of storage water available in the source reservoirs for providing normal water supply.

Stating this during Question Hour in the Assembly, KTR pointed out that 270 million gallons per day from the Krishna scheme and 172 million gallons per day from the Godavari scheme through the Yellampally barrage could currently be drawn.

404 Mgd were being supplied at this time from all sources compared to last year's supply of 355 Mgd. An additional 28 Mgd from the Krishna scheme and 58 Mgd from the Godavari scheme would be added from April, he explained.

Stoutly denying that at present many areas under the GHMC limits were not getting proper water supply, KTR explained that water supply was being provided on alternate days in the core city ensuring the 150 LPCD as per norms. And daily water supply was being provided to the BPL families in the slum areas wherever it was possible, he added.

KTR further said that in the peripheral circles, there were seven divisions having 4.30 lakh connections. About four lakh connections were being provided alternate-day water supply, and BPL families were being provided daily supply wherever possible.

In order to improve the water supply in the peripheral circles, the ongoing projects were being expedited so as to be ready for commissioning from April in phases, he added.

He further pointed out that as per the CPHEEO (Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organization) norms, the per capita water supply to be provided for domestic purposes was 150 LPCD with 15% UFW. Accordingly, the quantum of water required for the present population of 95 lakhs in Hyderabad for domestic purposes was 360 Mgd. However, 372 Mgd of water was being provided in the city currently, he claimed.

The minister said that in order to provide additional water, one transmission main which required rehabilitation under the Krishna Project was being taken up, and would be completed by the end of March. An additional 28 Mgd would be added to the distribution system through that, he said. An additional 58 Mgd would be added in a phased manner into the peripheral circles upon completion of the ongoing project from April, he added.

KTR said that the HMWS&SB has also taken up a summer action plan at a cost of Rs 5.8 crores to attend to the repairs of hand borewells, power borewells, valves and junction works, provide additional tanker trips etc. to cope with the summer demand and ensure proper water supply in the city. Senior officers were deployed to monitor the shortfalls in supply to any reservoir or division and to ensure sufficient quantities for the next day's supply. The flow rates through the bulk flow metres were being monitored through the SCADA system from the head office, he added.