Deccan Chronicle 23.02.2010

40% water lost due to leakages

Hyderabad, Feb. 22: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, which supplies drinking water to the city, is a “leaking bucket”. Experts say that 30 to 40 per cent of the total 330 MGD of water that is supplied in Greater Hyderabad is wasted due to leakages in the old and outdated distribution network

Unless these leaks are plugged, no amount of water will be sufficient to quench the thirst of the city, experts warn. Also, these leakages have resulted in contamination of water, causing illness and deaths. In all, 15 people died in Bholakpur when drainage water got mixed with drinking water. Officials themselves admit that both water and sewer pipelines have to be replaced at several places in the city.

The Water Board director (Projects), Mr M. Satyanarayana, said Rs 10,000 crore was required to replace old water and sewer lines, improve the distribution network and implement a sewerage master plan for Greater Hyderabad besides constructing additional storage reservoirs.

The state Budget for 2010-2011 has allocated over Rs 400 crore to the Water Board of which Rs 250 crore has been earmarked to bring Godavari water to the city and remaining for improvement of water supply lines and sewerage pipelines. Also, the Board has submitted project reports to JNNURM and has received nearly Rs 2,000 crore to improve sewerage and water lines in Serilingampally (Hitec city) and Rajendernagar municipalities.