Pipeline leaks lead to wastage of water

Hyderabad: In several localities in the city, damaged tap water lines are not replaced or repaired, leading to wastage of precious water during summer.

Following the Bholakpur incident in 2009, wherein several people had died after drinking contaminated water, the then AP government had sanctioned Rs 1,256 crore to replace defective and old pipelines. However, water continues to leak at many colonies.

The city has 4,294 km of pipes of which about 991 km are old and 594 km of pipes need to be replaced.

Mehrunnisa Begum, a resident of Defense Colony said, “For over a month the tap water pipeline near Sainikpuri, plot number 881 has been leaking.

When I called the general manager, Sainikpuri division the officials said the Water Board did not have funds to repair the damaged pipeline. It is heart breaking to see so much water being wasted when the residents are not getting sufficient water.”

Another resident, Uma S. Pydimarry of Malkajgiri, said, “There is a leakage in one of the pipes at Chanakyapuri area. This leakage is still not repaired and precious water is getting wasted for the last one and a half months. In spite of repeated complaints from the residents of Chanakyapuri, no proper efforts have been taken by water board.”

Areas that currently have leaking pipelines are Bharat Nagar, Mayuri Marg, Trimulgherry (from Karkhana stretch) and Sindhi Colony (near Hanuman temple — opposite Anand Theater). The Board authorities stated, “The Board has taken up works relating to temporary replacements of defective water supply pipelines amounting to Rs 74 crore.

After placing a comprehensive report, the state government is allocating a budget of Rs 37 crore every year since 2009 -10 to take up works on priority basis for improving water supply.