The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh/Hyderabad News : HMWSSB confident of daily water supply

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 04, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

HMWSSB confident of daily water supply

By M.L.Melly Maitreyi

HYDERABAD, APRIL 3. Is it possible to supply water everyday in the twin cities after the Krishna water supply commences? The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) is confident of doing so, at least for consumers in the twin cities, while those in the 10 municipalities adjoining the State Capital and industries will have to make do with alternate day supply only.

Despite serious doubts being expressed over the capability of the HMWSSB to restore daily supply, its Managing Director, M.G. Gopal, maintains it is no more a herculean task. His argument is that the projected requirement of consumers in the twin cities, excluding those living in the municipalities, is around 116 mgd. Currently, the Board is supplying 100 mgd on alternate days. And with the city supply being augmented with 45 mgd of Krishna waters through the pipeline in a day or two, it should not be a problem.

Presently, Mr. Gopal points out, the Board is in a position to supply 200 mgd to the State Capital, 10 municipalities and industries with Krishna waters at its disposal. The Board was presently pumping 150 mgd everyday and supplying the same on alternate days. Of this, 23 mgd was being pumped into the municipalities and another 18 mgd to bulk users like industries. Once the Krishna waters reach the city, the supply could be increased to 116 mgd daily to the twin cities alone and 30 mgd to the municipalities. The tentative date for daily supply is April 15.

But why did the Board suddenly decide to restore daily supply? Was it being done keeping the coming elections in view? Mr. Gopal argues that enough water is now available and hence the decision. With the water position comfortable at 150 mgd from four reservoirs and another 45 mgd of Krishna waters to augment the supply in few days, the Board is in a position to provide daily supply without decreasing the existing duration and at an improved pressure. The daily supply would be a permanent measure and the decision would be reviewed only in case of failure of monsoon and in the event of drastic fall in water levels of reservoirs. He says the daily supply is essential to enable the Board test its distribution network, check leakages of pipelines in different zones and gear to meet the ultimate goal of 24-hour water supply five years down the line.

But will the Krishna water supply be stable in future? He says if there is, shortfall on account of failure of monsoon, the Board would draw from the 100 tmc dead storage of Nagarjunasagar in the event of fall in water level at Sagar to keep the supply of 45 mgd to the city going through an additional expenditure on pumping.

The provision for pumping from Nagarjunasagar has already been made until the construction of permanent intake tower at Sunkesula in the second phase of Krishna water supply project, he added.

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