Hyderabad, June 8: The duration of drinking water supply in the city will be reduced by the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) as a precautionary measure.

The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, on Wednesday agreed to reduce the duration by 10-15 minutes and rationalise the supply. “Citizens however shall not be put to any difficulty,” he said.

The Chief Minister called for an emergency meeting with the city ministers and officials following reports of drinking water scarcity.

The officials informed the Chief Minister that water at the existing levels of 5.857 TMC would ensure smooth supply till September.

Necessary arrangements have been made to take up emergency pumping of 120 million gallons per day (mgd). The installed capacity from all sources for the city is 340 mgd.

The officials told the Chief Minister that Himayatsagar would supply water up to December at the present level and the Nagarjunasagar level should be maintained at minimum 510 feet to facilitate drawl of 180 mgd of Krishna waters.

Though the Chief Minister said the reduction in the duration of water supply would be 10-15 minutes, the officials have cut the supply by at least half-an-hour.

The proportionate reduction in water supply is higher in Krishna command areas such as Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, Erragadda, Serilingampally, Kukatpally, Qutbullapur, Alwal and Malkajgiri.