Water crisis acute in Cantonment areas

HYDERABAD: The acute shortage of drinking water in the localities governed by the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) is likely to deepen further with the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) expressing its inability to supply more water.
The Board has informed the SCB officials that it was not in a position to increase the water supply “at least during the summer�, citing technical problems.
As against the requirement of 40 lakh gallons per day (lgpd) for a population of about 2.5 lakh, the localities in the SCB have been getting a supply of 27 lgpd from the HMWS&SB. To meet the requirement, the SCB has entered into an agreement with the HMWS&SB in last month for the supply of 37 lgpd.
“We have already paid Rs 63.32 lakh to the Water Board to increase the existing supply of 27 lgpd to 37 lgpd,� SCB chief estate officer Ajay Kumar told The Times of India on Thursday. He expressed hope that the water crisis could be sorted out once the Cantonment Board starts getting additional supplies from HMWS&SB.
Though there was no deadline fixed between the two Boards for the increased water supply, it was expected to be completed by April 20. But so far, the HMWS&SB could increase the supply only to 30 lgpd.
“We are not in a position to increase the supply to 37 lgpd at least during the summer due to several technical reasons,� HMWS&SB managing director M G Gopal said, adding that the Board may add a maximum of two or three lgpd, if required.
Meanwhile, the SCB has made elaborate arrangements to face the crisis. “We have spent Rs 84 lakh to lay new distribution lines from Karkhana reservoir up to Jupiter Colony to benefit 15 housing colonies and from Bowenpally to Parkview Colony covering 35 colonies,� Ajay Kumar said.
A sum of Rs 98 lakh has been spent for laying of G-1 pipelines in slum areas and digging 25 electric deep bore wells in all seven wards, besides 110 electric and 700 hand pump bore wells, he said.