ORR Phase-I, HUDCO projects to be completed next month

This summer, Nagarjunasagar reservoir will hit water level of 505 feet in April but city and its periphery will not suffer water scarcity.

This month-end, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has a surplus of 78 million gallon per day (mgd) of water reserve. The city’s requirement so far is 400 mgd.

As for the periphery, M. Dana Kishore, MD, water board, said that the first instalment of Outer Ring Road drinking water project will start on March 5. As many as 16 villages under ORR project will get tap water supply starting March 5. The announcement was made at a review meeting held here.

The villages which will benefit from the project include: Mammarajguda, Mariyapuram, Wadiguda, Sunrise Colony, Hakimpet, Singaipally, Antaipally, Upperpally, Indira Nagar WHSC, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Bachupally, Pocharam, Nekhnampur, Annojiguda, Alijapur and Godumakunta.

ORR project is expected to provide water supply to 183 villages and 7 municipalities by October 2018 at an estimated cost of ₹628 crore. Another drinking water project supported by Housing and Urban Development Corporation is expected to be completed in March, Mr. Krishore told The Hindu.

Emergency pumping

Water levels at Himayatsagar and Osmansagar reservoirs indicate that they are capable of supporting emergency water requirement, HMWS&SB authorities vouched.

“Emergency pumping arrangements are in place at Nagarjunasagar after the Irrigation Department informed that they will not be able to pump water after April when water level hits 505 feet,” said Vijay Kumar Reddy, Director (Revenue) of the water board.

Water board had facilitated emergency pumping at Nagarjunasagar during the last two years.

Tanker-free colonies

A total of 300 colonies, which used to receive water supply in tankers, have been getting pipe water supply since the past three months. The colonies which have 35,000 families will not be dependent on water tankers this year.

“In old city, dependence on water tankers has gone down by 50%. While 200 tankers used to make eight trips per day in the locality, currently just 100 are plying, thanks to the reach of tap water,” Mr. Krishore said.

The dependence on water tankers in slums is expected to reduce this summer, he added