Keshavapuram project scrapped

Hyderabad: The state government has cancelled the Keshavapuram reservoir project, originally launched by the previous BRS government as part of the Godavari Phase-2 project, aimed to supply drinking water to Hyderabad by diverting Godavari water from the Mallannasagar project to the Keshavapuram reservoir on the city's outskirts. However, the Congress government has now announced a new cost-effective plan to directly supply water from Mallannasagar to Hyderabad, which is projected to save Rs 2,000 crore from the state exchequer.

The Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) department issued formal orders on Wednesday to terminate the Keshavapuram project, which involved intricate detour work to redirect water from Kondapochammasagar to Keshavapuram and then to Hyderabad. The government has now opted to use Mallannasagar as a direct source for Hyderabad's drinking water needs.

The updated plan aims to deliver 15 TMC of water from Mallannasagar, including 10 TMC for Hyderabad and an additional 5 TMC for the twin reservoirs of Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar, which will provide a stable and reliable water supply for Greater Hyderabad. The new alignment reduces the need for multiple pumping stations, which were originally spread across five locations — Akkaram, Markur, Kondapochammasagar, Bommaraspet, and Ghanpur — down to just two: Mallannasagar and Ghanpur. This streamlining is expected to lower operation, maintenance, and electricity costs.

Under the prior alignment, construction works of the Keshavapuram reservoir did not progress. Due to land acquisition issues and a flawed pipeline route through forest and defence lands, construction was delayed, and contract agency (MEIL) eventually requested a rate revision due to outdated SSR (Schedule of Rates) from 2017. The government rejected this request, instead opting to cancel the tenders and revamp the project alignment.

According to the new alignment, the water will be conveyed directly from Mallannasagar to Ghanpur, from where it will be distributed to Hyderabad and the twin reservoirs. Mallannasagar’s larger capacity — 50 TMC compared to Kondapochammasagar’s 15 TMC — allows it to serve as a more reliable source, as water can be pumped even from its dead storage.

In addition to ensuring a secure water supply, the new plan extends the pipeline from the original 71.9 km to 162 km, allowing water to reach the expanding city limits. The updated route will reduce the cost of supplying water from the Godavari and Krishna rivers to approximately Rs 4 per kilolitre, down from the current Rs 48.

This direct supply from Mallannasagar is also expected to play a vital role in the state's Musi River revival efforts, helping replenish Osmansagar and Himayatsagar, which have been neglected in recent years.