Areas in Secunderabad Cantonment beyond Karkhana subjected to water crisis perennially, which worsens during summers, may have to wait a little longer to have their concerns addressed.
Cantonment region was among the worst hit sections of the city until last year as many areas receive water just about once a week. Several hurdles, including non-payment of bills to the supplier Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), an ageing water distribution network, and inadequate supply from the supplier were blamed for past inadequacies.
While other issues are yet to be addressed, additional four lakh gallons per day (LGD) from Mahendra Hills to Karkhana after Krishna Phase III became operational last week, helped meet some of the shortfall.
The additional supply, however, does not reach residents of affected areas beyond Trimulgherry including Lothkunta, Bolarum and Hasmathpet. “These areas get their supply from Alwal and currently are facing water shortage. Krishna phase III is only helping meet shortage in areas surrounding Karkhana,” said M. Raj Kumar, SCB’s water works superintendent.
Mr. Kumar said if six LGD more is supplied to Karkhana, water requirement of areas up to Trimulgherry can be completely addressed but additional water supply is also needed from HMWSSB Alwal reservoir to meet shortage in areas beyond Trimulgherry.
The Secunderabad Cantonment’s water requirement stands at 53 to 55 lakh gallons per day of which around 46 lakh gallons is being supplied.
G. Rameshwar Rao, Director (Operations), HMWSSB, says that parched areas around Alwal will soon receive more water as additional 60 LGD of Krishna Phase II water will be pumped from Moula Ali reservoir to Alwal reservoir. This is expected to benefit SC areas as well.
“This pumping will begin in the next two days and will address water shortage in Alwal area,” Mr. Rao said.
The SCB may also soon see resolution of other long-pending issues including that of water dues and change of tariff from commercial to the panchayat slab.
“We will negotiate with the government to waive off dues that cantonment owes to HMWSSB and also have the tariff slab changed,” said ward V member J. Ramakrishna.
While it is known that the HWMSSB had agreed in principle to treat SCB as a panchayat, as far as billing goes, it remains to be seen if it would agree to waive off nearly Rs. 30 crore in dues.
