Date:02/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/02/stories/2007050218400500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

End to water woes

Special Correspondent

With commissioning of second phase Krishna project, the surrounding municipalities will get more water

HYDERABAD: There is good news for the residents of water-starved municipalities surrounding the State Capital. The Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board has decided to shore up supply by about 50 per cent of the existing volume.

Residents living on the outskirts are in the throes of a drinking water shortage with the supply being barely half of the rapidly peaking demand. "We will be supplying an additional 40 MGD to the municipalities with the Krishna second phase ready for commissioning and ensure alternate day supplies," HMWSSB managing director K.S. Jawahar Reddy told presspersons here on Tuesday. He said Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was likely to commission the second phase of the Krishna Drinking Water Supply Project for the twin cities in two to three weeks. While the first phase brought in 90 MGD of Krishna water, an equal volume will flow in thanks to the second phase, benefiting the surrounding municipalities.

The commissioning was pending awaiting release of funds from the Centre under the JNURM programme. While the twin cities and Gaddiannaram, L.B. Nagar, Qutbullapur and Kukatpally municipalities get alternate day supplies, eight other surrounding municipalities plagued by poor distribution network get water once in four to five days.

These are Malkajgiri, Alwal, Kapra, Uppal, Rajendranagar, Patancheru, Seri Lingampally and Ramachandrapuram.

The HMWSSB also put forth a massive estimate of Rs. 1,800 crores for total revamp and creation of a pucca distribution network in the municipalities, including a string of reservoirs.