HYDERABAD:To keep the Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs at their full reservoir levels all the time to ensure adequate supply to the city for drinking purpose, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board has prepared a feasibility report for drawing water from the Srisailam backwater and bringing it to the two city reservoirs.
The report was prepared on the directive of chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao mainly to prevent the two reservoirs from drying up and to see they continue to supply water to different parts of the old city.
Unlike the Krishna (Akkampally) project, the proposed scheme for drawing water from Yelluru to the Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs will prove beneficial in the long run as only minimum pumping will be required for lifting water from the intake well. This will help HMWS&SB save hefty power bills.
Another advantage is that land acquisition is not going to be a problem. Currently, the board is facing serious problems in acquiring lands for Phase-I of Godavari drinking water project. In the proposed scheme, the rural water supply (RWS) department will acquire lands under the water grid Scheme.
The other advantage will be that it will help the board maintain FRL in the century-old twin reservoirs throughout the year. The two reservoirs are on the verge of drying up due to lack of inflows in view of the large-scale encroachments in the catchment areas and interceptions due to construction of check dams.
Himayatsagar and Osmansagar, which supply 40 MGD (million gallons per day) of drinking water to Hyderabad, are always at the mercy of rain god.
A team of senior officials of HMWS&SB inspected the places a few days ago and prepared a technical feasibility report for drawing from Srisailam backwater to the city lakes for a distance of about 130 km with two-stage pumping at Kalwakol and Gudipally and a balancing reservoir at Kondurgu. The project is estimated to cost Rs 2,500 crore. At the next meeting, the board will submit the technical feasibility report to the chief minister and the chairman of Water Board. Basing on their suggestions, the board will take necessary action.
The Scheme
Pipeline: 130 km
Two-stage Pumping: Kalwakol, Gudipally
Balancing Reservoir: Kondurgu
Estimated Cost: Rs 2,500 cr