New water source for Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The state government has decided to draw 10 tmc ft of Godavari water from Keshavapuram instead of Kondapochammasagar to supply drinking water to the city.

The government has accepted the detailed project report (DPR) which estimates the cost of the project at Rs 4,777 crore. It is expected to be completed in three years.

The officials said once the government gives approval for the project, the Hyderabad Water Board will call tenders.

To meet the drinking water needs of the capital, the government had allocated 30 tmc ft of Godavari water to the Water Board from the Yellampally / Pranahitha project.

The board developed a scheme to utilise the 10 tmc ft of water from the Yellampally barrage. For the remaining 20 tmc ft, the irrigation department was requested to indicate the source point.

The irrigation department allocated the Kondapochammasagar under the Kaleswaram lift scheme for the purpose. 

The Water and Power Consultancy Services (Wapcos) drew up the draft proposal to draw 20 tmc ft from Kondapo-chammasagar, which necessitated a lift scheme that required huge recurring power costs.

The state government has advised to formulate the scheme in phases equivalent of 10 tmc ft for each scheme and provided certain guidelines including that inflow to the Keshavapuram reservoir shall be by gravity from Kondapocham-masagar.

The government also specified that the reservoir should be created in such a manner that it will require the least land acquisition from private pattadars and instead use government forest land. It said the reservoir bund section height should be suitable for an earthen bund.

After examining various proposals, Wapcos submitted the DPR, pegging the project cost at Rs 4,777.59 crore. 

The state government has advised the Water Board to process the project under hybrid annuity mode of contract with 30 per cent share of working items and tax provisions and land acquisition cost to be borne by the government, and the rest by the investor.

The repayment will be made monthly over 10 years. Due to this, the project cost will reach to Rs 6,891.10 crore from Rs 4,777.59 crore.