The State government has initiated work on drinking water supply project in municipal circles on the periphery of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation at a cost of ₹1,900 crore.
Of the total quantum, ₹1,700 crore has been mobilised as loan from HUDCO and the remaining ₹200 crore would be provided by the State government as budgetary support, Municipal Administration Minister K.T. Rama Rao said. Another project for putting in place an effective sewerage pipeline network in the city and its periphery, with an estimated cost of ₹240 crore, was under active consideration of the government.
Replying to a query during the Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, the Minister said the work involved construction of 56 storage reservoirs and laying of inlet, feeder mains, outlet and distribution network spanning over a length of 1,900 km. The government has incurred an expenditure of ₹987 crore on the water supply project in peripheral municipal circles and work was progressing at a brisk pace.
A similar project has been taken up on annuity basis for construction of reservoirs and putting in place a distribution network spanning 2,100 km covering 190 villages/habitations along the Outer Ring Road (ORR). Since the project has been awarded on annuity basis, the initial investment would be by the bidder and this would be paid after the completion of the project over a period of seven years. “The expenditure incurred as on date is therefore nil,” he said.
The Minister responded positively to suggestions that immediate action be initiated in some areas where there were complaints from residents that they were being supplied with polluted water. He said the authorities of Hyderabad Metro Water Works would visit the affected areas and take remedial measures. To a complaint that the roads that were being dug for laying pipelines were not being relaid, he directed the officials to take steps for an effective coordination between the departments concerned and ensure that such complaints were redressed at the earliest.
