Godavari to Give Water to Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: The state government has decided to enhance Hyderabad’s drinking water supply by utilising 20 tmc ft of water from the Godavari River, sourced through the Mallannasagar and Konda Pochammasagar as part of second phase of Godavari drinking water project.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy conducted a comprehensive review of the second phase project with officials from the irrigation department and HMWS&SB here on Saturday.

He directed officials to expedite the project by inviting tenders within a week. He also instructed them to prepare a detailed report on the costs and feasibility of transferring water from each reservoir. The plan includes a streamlined pipeline network to minimise operational costs and ensure efficiency.

The Congress government’s revised strategy replaces the BRS government’s Keshavapuram reservoir project, which was subject to delays due to land acquisition and logistical challenges. The new approach involves supplying water directly from Mallannasagar, bypassing intermediate reservoirs, saving the state exchequer Rs 2,000 crore.

The updated plan prioritises cost-effectiveness by reducing the number of pumping stations from five to two — Mallannasagar and Ghanpur. This adjustment lowers operational, maintenance, and electricity expenditure.

Mallannasagar, with its 50 tmc ft capacity, serves as a more reliable source compared to Konda Pochammasagar’s 15 tmc ft. Under the revised alignment, the pipeline length increases from 71.9 km to 162 km to accommodate Hyderabad’s expanding city limits.

The cost of supplying water is projected to drop significantly, from ?48 per kilolitre to ?4, benefiting both residents and the state treasury. The revamped project will deliver 15 tmc ft of water from Mallannasagar: 10 tmc ft for Hyderabad and five for Osmansagar and Himayatsagar. This will help stabilise the drinking water supply for Greater Hyderabad and support the revival of Musi river.

The Keshavapuram project was stalled due to the outdated 2017 cost estimates. Reddy called for a close coordination with Mission Bhagiratha officials and directed preparation of tender procedures by the first week of next month.