Deccan Chronicle 05.04.2010

City faces water crunch

Hyderabad, April 4: Drinking water supply to the twin cities will be cut by about 10 million gallons per day (MGD) following the state government’s decision to divert some of the water from Krishna Phase-I project to a few habitations in neighbouring Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda districts. The idea is to supply Krishna water to the villages enroute.

The Water Board currently draws 180 MGD from Krishna Phase-I and II, and supplies it to the twin cities.

A reduction of 10 MGD will make a huge difference in the supply, as the quantity fulfills the needs of about three-lakh population.

The state government has given permission to the Panchayat Raj department to divert water from the Krishna project to Shadnagar in Mahbubnagar district.

Sources said there will be no immediate impact on water supply to the city because the PR department has to lay a 45-km pipeline between Gunagal in Nalgonda district and Shadnagar in Mahbubnagar district.

Likewise, the long pending proposal of diverting some water from Krishna project to villages in Nalgonda district has been cleared. Krishna water pipeline has been laid through Nalgonda district up to Sahebnagar in the city.

The Water Board supplies 332 MGD of water every day in the city against a demand for over 400 MGD.