Hyderabad: Plans to Use Godavari Water for City's Drinking Needs
The state government of Telangana is working on a plan to use water from the Godavari river to meet Hyderabad’s growing drinking water needs. The proposal involves lifting water from the Kondapochamma and Mallanna Sagar reservoirs. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed officials to prepare a detailed report on the project.
During a recent review meeting with officials from the Irrigation Department and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of a thorough study. He asked officials to analyze the cost and availability of water in each reservoir, ensuring the report is based on ground realities. This comprehensive report is expected to be presented during the upcoming Assembly session.
The Chief Minister also instructed the officials to finalize procedures for inviting tenders by the first week of next month. He asked them to coordinate with Mission Bhagiratha officials to streamline the process. Notably, the state government has already allocated ₹5,560 crore for the second phase of the Godavari drinking water project.
This project aims to address Hyderabad’s increasing water demands, which are currently met through various sources. The city presently receives about 600 million gallons per day (MGD) of water. However, with Hyderabad’s rapid growth, this supply may not be sufficient in the near future. To tackle this, the government plans to pump an additional 20 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of Godavari water, ensuring the city’s needs are met until 2030. In phase one, the HMWSSB is already receiving 10 TMC of water from the Yellampalli project.
The initiative also includes plans to rejuvenate the twin reservoirs of Himayatsagar and Osmansagar. These reservoirs are not only vital sources of drinking water but also help sustain the Musi River. This comprehensive effort aims to secure Hyderabad’s water supply for years to come.
