Water crisis looms over Hyderabad’s IT corridor, 80 pc cut likely

To reduce the impact of the shortage, the water board is working on a plan to bring an additional 40 MGD of Godavari water into the city.

Hyderabad: Several areas in the western corridor of Hyderabad are likely to face severe drinking water shortages from December this year.

According to a report in the Times of India, Serilingampally is expected to see an 80 per cent reduction in supply. Among the other areas that are likely to be worst-affected are Patancheru, Kukatpally, Gachibowli and Narsingi.

These localities have more than 3 lakh water consumers.

Situation highlighted during meeting

The situation was highlighted by Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) Managing Director K Ashok Reddy during a recent meeting with representatives of the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO).

Giving the reason behind the shortage, he said that there is a sharp fall in water levels at the Singur and Manjeera reservoirs.

The water level in both the reservoirs currently stands at 10 per cent of their storage capacity. It is likely that the reservoirs will be dry by mid-December.

Water supply cuts in several Hyderabad areas

It is likely that the shortage will not be limited to the western IT corridor. Sanathnagar, SR Nagar and some parts of Jubilee Hills and Banjara Hills may also face a reduction of 30-50 per cent in their regular water supply.

To reduce the impact of the shortage, the water board is working on a plan to bring an additional 40 MGD of Godavari water into the city.

However, it is challenging to transporting water from Shamirpet to areas such as Gachibowli, Narsingi and Kukatpally. The board is developing the required pipeline connectivity.

The connectivity works are expected to be completed by November 15.

Despite this arrangement, the additional supply will not fully meet the existing demand. The water board expects to bridge only 50 to 60 MGD of the current 100 MGD shortage.

Real estate developers asked to use treated water

In view of the shortage, the HMWSSB has also asked real estate developers to avoid using borewell water for construction activities.

Instead, builders have been advised to purchase treated wastewater from sewage treatment plants (STP) through designated green tankers.

The treated water can be used for construction work, including curing, as well as gardening and landscaping in existing residential communities.