HMWSSB Orders Water Contingency Plan, Measures To Clear Tanker Backlog In Boduppal

On Tuesday, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) Managing Director Ashok Reddy directed officials to prepare a comprehensive contingency plan by July 16 to safeguard the drinking water supply in Hyderabad. The directive specifically addresses potential water deficits in areas dependent on the Singur and Manjira reservoirs, while also targeting severe water tanker backlogs in nearby eastern neighbourhoods like Boduppal and Peerzadiguda.

The contingency plan was ordered during a board performance review meeting on Tuesday, following concerns that anticipated flood inflows into the Singur and Manjira reservoirs might not materialise.

Reddy instructed officials to assess reservoir-wise water availability, calculate minimum drinking water requirements, and identify potential supply deficits. The plan must detail the feasibility of diverting water from the Krishna, Godavari, and Mission Bhagiratha systems to the affected areas.

To implement these diversions, the board will outline required infrastructure developments. This includes specifying necessary pipelines, interconnections, valves, pumping stations, reservoir modifications, and area-wise water allocation.

To prevent public panic, the HMWSSB chief ordered the preparation of a scientific water balance statement. This statement will be based on current storage, daily drawal, usable water, allocations, and transmission losses, ensuring verified information is shared transparently with the public.

Addressing immediate local supply issues, Reddy ordered measures to clear pending water tanker bookings. The board aims to ensure at least 11,000 tanker trips daily across its 95 filling stations. Backlogs have persisted in several areas, including Boduppal, Peerzadiguda, Shapurnagar, NTR Nagar, Kothapet, Gajularamaram, and Mangapuram.

To eliminate the backlog within three to four days, the board has ordered additional tankers, extra drivers, night shifts, additional filling points, and vehicle mapping from nearby stations.