`Make Hyderabad a global city': Rs 5,066 Cr sanctioned for STPs, drinking water

The state government has sanctioned Rs 3,866 crore to build 31 STPs and Rs 1,200 crore for improving drinking water supply to the Urban Local Bodies and Gram Panchayats surrounding Hyderabad.

Minister of Municipal Administration and Urban Development KT Rama Rao said this is the highest amount ever sanctioned for the city. He thanked Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for issuing orders in this regard.

"This is the first time such a huge amount has been allocated for improving drinking water supply and setting up Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs). Work will be started shortly and completed in a span of two years," said KTR.

He said it will suffice the city's needs for 10 to 15 years. "Once completed, Hyderabad will become the only city in the country to have a capacity to treat 100 percent sewerage. At present, the city has STPs to treat 772 MLDs (million liters a day) which accounts for just 46.75 percent of total sewerage water produced. The new STPs will create additional capacity to treat 1,260 MLDs," he said.

KTR said the STPs will be constructed in a hybrid annuity model on the lines of the National Highways Authority of India. The companies which set up the STPs will maintain them for 15 years. The government will contribute 40 percent of funds, while the rest will be mobilized through loans.

Giving details of the project to "make Hyderabad a global city", KTR said the project would also help protect water bodies including lakes, tanks, and ponds in the city.

He also indicated the government's plans to remove encroachments on nalas to allow free discharge of stormwater. However, the government would take both the public and elected representatives into confidence before embarking upon the task. He said the government would also make legislation, if necessary, to make the task hurdle free.