Hyderabad government offices will have to use 100 per cent treated sewage treatment plant (STP) water for non-potable needs from November 1, following directions issued by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy at a review meeting on treated water utilisation on Wednesday.
The directive covers uses such as landscaping and road cleaning, with the Chief Minister also asking officials to extend treated water use to the Outer Ring Road, the Secretariat, the Chief Minister’s office and public parks. Orders to make the arrangement mandatory are to be implemented from November 1 through December, according to the report by Deccan Chronicle.
Reddy directed officials to ensure that there is no compromise on water quality at treatment plants. He also called for the use of artificial intelligence technology in treated water treatment plants and asked that a special officer be appointed at every plant. The plants are to be linked to a command control centre, while HYDRAA has been asked to monitor their functioning.
The Chief Minister further directed officials to track treated water tankers. He asked them to examine whether the plants could be operated using solar power, linking the treated-water programme to both water management and energy use. Officials were also told to encourage private STPs and conduct a publicity campaign on the use of treated water.
The proposed expansion could bring additional public facilities and infrastructure agencies within the programme. Reddy suggested that the Railway Department and Metro Rail be included, and that treated water be supplied to data centres as well. The directions indicate that treated water is being considered for a wider range of non-drinking applications beyond government buildings.
The Chief Minister also proposed adding a condition on treated water use when building construction permissions are granted. The report did not specify the detailed eligibility criteria, enforcement mechanism or the treatment standards that would apply to private developments under such a condition.
A toll-free number for treated water was also proposed. Water Board officials briefed the meeting on drinking-water availability, while Reddy instructed officials to align measures with future requirements and continuously monitor fresh-water supply. He warned against negligence and stressed that a shortage of drinking water must not be allowed to arise.
The review meeting at the MCR HRD Bodhi Pavilion was attended by Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju, CMO Secretary Manik Raj, Director of School Education Naveen Nicholas, Cyberabad Municipal Commissioner Srujana, Malkajgiri Municipal Commissioner Vinay Krishna Reddy, Water Board Managing Director Ashok Reddy, TGSPDCL Managing Director Jitesh V. Patil, Pollution Control Board Member Secretary Ravi and Special Commissioner of Information and Public Relations Mukunda Reddy. The immediate implementation milestone is the issuance and enforcement of orders beginning November 1.
