Pipeline disruption hits water supply in 'Secunderabad Cantonment Board'

Hyderabad: Several colonies in and around Kharkhana which falls under the Secunderabad Cantonment Board, are facing problems in the supply of drinking water over the past week. There has been a disruption in the pipeline between Mahendra Hills and Kharkhana, leading to irregular supply, much to the inconvenience of citizens.

Nearly 30 per cent of the colonies, slums in the Cantonment area receive water through this line. SCB officials say that about 70 colonies and slums have been affected by the disruption.

The Cantonment Board did not receive water from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) for three days, from July 18 to 20. Usually, water is supplied to the SCB area once every three days, but this time the gap extended to six days. Some colonies have not received water since July 15.

Hemant Sharma of AP Textbook Colony says that 300 families in his colony are facing hardships. “We are paying over Rs 300 per month against the water bill. But the water supply is erratic,” he says.

The HMWSSB shut down its reservoir in Vanasthalipuram for maintenance works on July 18. The water supply was to have been restored with 24 to 36 hours, but incessant rains delayed the restoration.

D. Sudarshan, the general manager of the HMWSSB, said that supply was restored on Friday. They were able to supply 65 per cent of SCB’s daily requirement on the first day. The Cantonment receives 55 lakh gallons of water per day. Cantonment officials say that they released water to a few colonies on Friday. Normally is expected to be restored within the next couple of days, after which the three-day schedule will be followed.