No water scarcity in Hyderabad for next 2 years, says water board

Hyderabad: With the abundant rainfall in the catchment areas of Krishna River in Karnataka and Maharashtra filling up the dams that provide drinking water, Hyderabad and its surrounding area will have ample supply of drinking water for the next 24 months, according to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB).

The HMWS&SB has already removed 15 emergency pump motors from Puttamgandi (Nagarjuna Sagar) and 10 from the Sripada Yellampalli uplifting spots. Water Board officials said they would save over Rs 15 crore in two years that the emergency pumping of water would have cost. An HMWS&SB official further said that, in addition to operation and maintenance of emergency pumping works, the electricity bills will also be saved and the Rs 15 crore amount includes the power bills too.

The HMWS&SB draws water from Nagarjuna Sagar, Yellampally, Manjeera and Singur reservoirs in addition to the twin reservoirs – Osaman Sagar and Himayat Sagar.

The HMWS&SB in fear of water scarcity had made an emergency pumping arrangement at Nagarjuna Sagar after a period of seven years during April this year. Pumping arrangements are also in place at Sripada Yellampally too, however, the need to pump water to the city will not arise due to good inflows into the Krishna basin and copious inflows being expected in Godavari basin in coming days.

Presently, the total water available at Nagarjuna Sagar is 294.55 TMC and in April the water available here was merely 133.71 TMC. Similarly, at the Sripada Yellampally, the total available water is 14.11 TMC and the water available in April this year is 7.38 TMC.

Water Availability

Osman Sagar: 90.92 MLD

Himayat Sagar: 25.54 MLD

Singur / Manjira: 491.19 MLD

Krishna Ph- I, II & III: 1,254.37 MLD

Godavari Ph- I: 740.27 MLD

MLD = million litres a day

Distribution of Water

Core city area: 1098 MLD

Peripheral circles: 1080.44 MLD

ORR urban local bodies: 270.66 MLD

Mission Bhagiratha: 149.19 MLD