Rs 350 cr sanctioned for Godavari water to city

HYDERABAD:  To execute the first phase of Godavari drinking water supply scheme for the city, the municipal administration and urban development department has sanctioned Rs 350 crore to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board for laying ring mains from the master balancing reservoir of the Godavari to the existing distribution reservoirs at Lingampally, Alwal and Sainikpuri.The water thus drawn will be supplied through the existing distribution network to the core areas of the twin cities and in the surrounding areas.In view of the serious drinking water crisis in the city, the government took up GDWSS Phase-I for drawing 172 MGD (10 tmcft) of water from the Sripada Sagar reservoir at Yellampally in Karimnagar district to Hyderabad at a cost of Rs.3,375 crore with funding options from JNNURM, GHMC and the state government.The project work was taken up in three packages under EPC contract system. Subsequently, proposals to lay ring mains to connect them to the existing system and reservoirs were prepared by Aarvee Associates, Hyderabad.HMWS&SB officials told Express that funding by JNNURM and GHMC for the main project and ring mains did not materialise and the main project work is being undertaken with the government's budgetary support.  HMWS&SB approached the HUDCO for a Rs 1,000-crore loan aid which is under process. Meanwhile, the water board has obtained approval from the chief minister, who is also the chairman of HMWS&SB, to submit the ring main proposals to the government for obtaining administrative sanction for its incorporation into the ongoing main project. The government accorded sanction for laying the transmission mains (Ring Mains-I & II) to the Lingampally and Sainikpuri reservoirs at a cost of Rs 350 crore.