SAPPED DRY: The dried-up Himayatsagar presents a dismal picture. — Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: With Himayatsagar drying up fully along with the phenomenon of borewells ceasing to give yields in the city, the summer of discontent has begun again.

The Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board has stopped drawing water from the lake, which used to supply 15 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) till a fortnight back. While Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy here on Tuesday wanted the water board officials to ensure daily water supply in the city by the year-end, the pressure is mounting on it to maintain the present supply volume of 240 MGD in the summer season.

Severe impact

There were reports of the water board resorting to unscheduled reduction in the supply timings all over the city and the impact was all the more severe in the surrounding municipalities where drinking water supply ranges from once in three to five days. However, HMWSSB managing director K.S. Jawahar Reddy exuded confidence that the present supply volume would continue all through summer. "There is no doubt about the supply volume despite Himayatsagar going dry, but people might face some difficulties in the form of delayed supplies owing to fluctuations in power supply," he explained.

Krishna water, the mainstay of city's drinking water supply, is hauled from Nagarjunasagar, 116 km away, but prolonged power cuts enroute have begun disrupting the pumping process, leaving the HMWSSB authorities in a quandary. Following stoppage of water drawal from Himayatsagar, the loss was being covered up by additional intake from Krishna phase one and reportedly from the second phase also, which had completed trial runs. The second phase is likely to get a final clearance from the Centre next Monday under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission. This will ensure an additional 90 MGD for the city and the second phase is likely to be commissioned sometime this summer.

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