HYDERABAD: With water levels in city reservoirs plummeting to lowest ever in the decade, tough times are ahead for the citizens as the drinking water crisis is all set to deepen due to deficit monsoon.
The depleting water level in Osmansagar, Himayatsagar, Singur and Manjira, which meets nearly 50 percent of the drinking needs of Greater Hyderabad and suburban areas, is causing concern to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB). Until the last week of August, not even one TMC of water (1,000 million cubic feet) was received in these four reservoirs.
If no immediate steps are taken up by the state government like completion of first phase of Godavari Drinking Water Supply Scheme (GDWSP) to bring 172 MGD (10 TMC) of water from Yellampally and part commissioning of third phase of Krishna Drinking Water Supply Scheme (45 MGD), the situation may worsen.
The total storage capacity of these four reservoirs which include Osmansagar (3.900 tmc), Himayatsagar (2.967 tmc, Singur (30,000 tmc) and Manjira (1.500 tmc) is about 39.816 tmc.
The present storage level is just 3.165 tmc with Osmansagar having 0.100 tmc, Himayatsagar 0.413 tmc, Singur 2.312 tmc) and Manjira 0.340 tmc.
The inflows received by the four city reservoirs till last week was about 0.987 tmc which was less than 1 tmc. The previous lowest inflow of 6.628 tmc was recorded in 2014 followed by 9.258 tmc in 2012.
The incessant rains in the city and its outskirts during the last 10 days failed to fill up the levels in reservoirs. The reliability of these existing sources were diminishing with each passing year due to scanty rains and encroachments of catchment areas. The highest inflows was recorded in 2010 with 122.135 tmc followed by 57.927 tmc in 2008 and 44.860 tmc in 2005.
In view of the precarious levels, the water board has started making serious attempts to complete the GDWSP Phase-1 and KDWSP Phase-3 projects at the earliest.
