The Malkajgiri water supply scheme is just 2,000 connections away from completion. Under the scheme, which is partially funded by World Bank’s Municipal Development Project (MDP), 36,000 new water connections have been given already in the water scarce area.
Of the nine reservoirs required for the project to run smoothly, five are complete and three are already functioning after inauguration. The Water Board (Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board) has relocated one reservoir, construction of which was mired in land dispute. “The board has identified land for constructing the final reservoir. Once the construction is complete the drinking water supply scheme in the area will be fully functional,” M. Dana Kishore, Managing Director of HMWSSB told The Hindu . The MD estimated a maximum of four months’ time for the completion of the project. “The project is likely to finish in the first quarter of 2018,” he added.
Work so far
The project was sanctioned at a cost of ₹ 339.5 crore under MDP. While agreement on the comprehensive water supply scheme for Malkajgiri circle was signed in 2009, it was in November 2014 that the work started. Under the project, pump houses were set up at Defence Colony, Vajpayee Nagar, Moula Ali, Sainikpuri, Sainathpuram and Gautam Nagar. The inlet-outlet mains and distribution package of the pipeline have cost around ₹ 200 crore.
The project, once implemented, is expected to solve inconsistent water supply problems in the area as it will provide water supply 24x7 in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s Malkajgiri circle. The project makes it possible to store sufficient amount of water. Currently, the residents get Krishna water supply once in three days.
Service pipelines have been laid to connect all localities in Malkajgiri area. The Board has also provided automatic water meters in the area at a cost of ₹ 53 crore. Water meters will have to be provided to over 36,000 households in Malkajgiri circle to prevent wastage of water. Installation of water meters in about 30,000 households is complete, the board authorities said.
“As most of the pipeline and meter installation work is done, over 85 percent of the area is already covered. Five new reservoirs will be inaugurated soon,” Mr. Kishore assured.
