As many as 18 agencies have submitted Expression of Interest (EoI) to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) for preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) under the National Lake Conservation Plan (NCLP) for protection and conservation of the Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs.
Lately, HMWS&SB has realised that there is need to conserve and protect Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs and took a decision to take remedial measures to protect these lake from getting further polluted and avoid making another Hussainsagar.
The firms which submitted the EoI are: YAB Water projects Pvt Ltd, Voyants Solutions Private Limited, Consulting Engineering Services (India) Pvt Ltd, DPC Design and Planning Counsel Pvt Ltd, Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd, MSV International Inc, USA.
Sai Consulting Engineers Pvt Ltd, Terracon Eco Tech Pvt Ltd, Tata Consulting Engineers Ltd, Feedback Infra Pvt Ltd, IPE Global Pvt Ltd. PBS Consultancy Services, EGIS India Consulting Engineers Pvt Ltd, Vision EIS Consulting Pvt Ltd, WAPCOS Limited, Multi Mantech International Pvt Ltd, GGS and MWH India Pvt Ltd.
HMWS&SB officials told Express that the bids would be evaluated by an expert committee which would take one month for evaluation. Based on the committee’s report, the state government will take necessary action.
The Osmansagar and Himayatsagar lakes are the main sources of drinking water for the citizens of Hyderabad. As on today, the two reservoirs supply about 30 million gallons of water per day (MGD) to the twin cities.
Because of the construction boom near the two lakes and release of sewage into them, the lakes’ water quality has been deteriorating.
The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), which conducted a detailed study a few years ago, said in its report to HMWS&SB that these two lakes were being polluted due to sewage inflows.
NEERI recommended studies on the two reservoir structures, draw and inflow pattern, rainfall and hydrological data. The agencies should study GIS mapping of FTL contours, water spread area at FTL to demarcate the lake boundaries and fixing of FTL pillars at 100-metre distances. They should study adoption of suitable protective measures such as fencing, construction of bunds, digging of trenches, etc to establish lake boundaries and to prevent encroachments into FTL areas. Also to be studied are the entry point of sewerage from surrounding villages and their discharged pattern etc.