Hyderabad water supply from the Manjeera source could be reduced by 10 million gallons per day (MGD) from December as the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) prepares for falling reservoir levels and peak summer demand.
HMWSSB is currently drawing 71 MGD from Singur against a scheduled allocation of 75 MGD, a shortfall of 4 MGD. From Manjeera, the Board is drawing 44 MGD against the scheduled 45 MGD, according to a report by Telangana Today citing HMWSSB sources.
Singur’s water level stood at 1,689 feet against its full tank level of 1,717 feet, while Manjeera was at 1,642 feet against an FTL of 1,651 feet. An HMWSSB official said the levels in both sources were expected to decline significantly in about a month, prompting a proposal to reduce Manjeera supply by 10 MGD.
The proposed reduction would affect a wide network covering parts of Hyderabad’s western, northwestern and northern suburbs. The Manjeera network also serves defence establishments, industrial areas and the Secunderabad Cantonment.
Localities in the northwestern network include Kukatpally, KPHB Colony, Pragathi Nagar, Miyapur, Hyder Nagar, Gangaram, Madinaguda and Chanda Nagar. Erragadda, SR Nagar, Ameerpet, Sanath Nagar, Moosapet and parts of Begumpet in central Hyderabad and the western suburbs are also served by the network.
The affected industrial and Outer Ring Road belt includes Patancheru, Ramachandrapuram, Lingampally, Beeramguda and Ameenpur. In the northern part of the city, the network covers Secunderabad Cantonment, Ferozguda, Bowenpally, Hasmathpet and Alwal.
The Board has advised resident welfare associations, defence establishment managements and other key institutions not to depend entirely on HMWSSB supply. These institutions have been asked to use alternative sources they have developed, including rainwater harvesting systems, where available.
HMWSSB has also been operating two pumps at emergency pumping stations since the last week of September. The number of pumps will be increased as water levels in Singur and Manjeera decline, an official said.
The proposed supply cut comes before the summer demand period, when pressure on Hyderabad’s water network typically rises. For households and institutions connected to the Manjeera network, the immediate operational issue will be how the reduction is managed across a large and varied service area that includes residential neighbourhoods, industrial zones and public institutions.
The Board’s next steps are to monitor storage levels in Singur and Manjeera, expand emergency pumping capacity as required and proceed with the proposed 10 MGD reduction from December if reservoir conditions continue to worsen.
