Date:02/02/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/02/02/stories/2004020211160500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Talasani unveils mega plans for improved watersupply

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, FEB. 1. The Tourism and Culture Minister, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, has said that under the water supply improvement plan of Megacity Project, reservoirs and sumps will be constructed at eight places with a total capacity of 19.5 million litres (ml), pumphouses at four places while 64 km of feeder lines will be laid at a cost of Rs.70.25 crores.

Mr. Yadav was speaking after laying the foundation stone at Bhoiguda reservoir for Rs.4.5-crore work under the Megacity Project to augment water supply for the low-level areas of Srinivasanagar and Sitaphalmandi in the Secunderabad constituency.

Mr. Yadav said the work for which the foundation was laid to improve water supply to the areas of Padmaraonagar, Bholakpur, MIG Colony, IDH Colony, Marwadi Galli, Golla Komaraiah Colony, Jai Prakash Nagar, Jai Nagar Colony, Sitaphalmandi, Venkatapuram, Idgah, Chilkalguda, Gandhi Statue and Srinivasanagar would be completed by November this year.

This work would increase the present supply of 9 ml to 16 ml, he said. He said of the 116-km pipeline to be laid for the Rs.875-crore Krishna water project, work on 100 km of pipeline was completed.

The 10-ml capacity ground-level service reservoir at Bhoiguda, constructed at a cost of Rs.2.25 crores, was inaugurated by the Minister last year for commanding the areas of Bholakpur and Kavadiguda by gravity.

Mr. Yadav had then suggested that another line be laid to improve water supply to low-level areas by pumping water from the Bhoiguda reservoir.

The Commercial Taxes Minister, K. Vijayarama Rao, who was chief guest, said the Government had been giving priority for drinking water supply. Thousands of households had been given tap connection and water pressure had been improved for better supply.

In spite of three-year drought, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) had done a commendable job by upgrading existing infrastructure and ensured supply to households in summer also.

Recalling that when the Government had announced that Krishna waters would be brought to the city by March 31 this year many heckled, but the project had been nearing completion and water would reach within the scheduled time, he noted.

The HMWSSB Managing Director, M.G. Gopal, gave details of the work for pumping water from the Bhoiguda reservoir.