Just 11 TMC available: Come summer, water crisis deepens in Hyderabad, other districts

Hyderabad: Come summer, an unprecedented water crisis is looming large over Hyderabad and other districts.

With just 11 TMC remaining in the Sripada Yellampalli project and alleged leakages in the Annaram and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), the situation is becoming increasingly precarious. The state government is yet to unveil a contingency plan to address the looming crisis.

Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board's proposed summer action plan for 2024 highlights the need for an additional 50 MGD (million gallons per day) in the Greater Hyderabad area, adding to the existing usage of 550 MGD. Major reservoirs on the Krishna and Godavari Rivers are witnessing depleting water levels, with only 319.22 TMC of storage capacity left out of 517.81 TMC. The State government has already declared a crop holiday in various projects due to water scarcity.

Sripada Yellampally project, a critical water source for Hyderabad and other districts, currently holds around 11 TMC against its full storage capacity of 18.98 TMC. With rapid depletion at approximately one TMC per week, only less than 7 TMC is available for usage, considering the project's dead storage level of 3.3 TMC.

To address this critical situation, Irrigation officials propose the urgent release of water from the Kadem project to sustain the required water level in the Sripada Yellampally project for Mission Bhagiratha water supply. The Kadem project faces challenges as a crop holiday has been declared, leaving only about 1 TMC available for release from its full storage capacity of 7 TMC.

Despite alleged leakages at the Sundilla barrage, the State government directed officials to release water downstream instead of lifting it to fill the Sripada Yellampally project, exacerbating the situation.

Officials emphasize the need for immediate action, proposing the release of water from the Kadem project to the Sripada Yellampally project up to the crest level.

“The urgency is paramount to avert an unprecedented water scarcity in the State capital and surrounding areas,” said officials.