With water levels in reservoirs and projects catering to Greater Hyderabad remaining critically low, the Telangana state government is set to continue emergency water pumping from Nagarjuna Sagar and other sources for an additional month. This measure will persist until the projects receive adequate inflows to stabilise the situation.
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) is sustaining emergency water extraction efforts from Nagarjuna Sagar through the Puttamgandi and Alimineti Madhava Reddy (AMR) projects to meet the drinking water needs of Greater Hyderabad. The water level at Nagarjuna Sagar, a primary water source for the region, currently stands at 504 feet, significantly below its full reservoir capacity of 590 feet.
Sources within the water board report that approximately 900 cusecs of water are being pumped daily using two pumps from Puttamgandi and the AMR project. This emergency drawal has been ongoing for the past two months and is expected to continue until the Sagar reaches the minimum draw-down level (MDDL) of 510 feet. Irrigation officials have noted that, with the exception of the Jurala project on the Krishna delta, none of the projects are receiving inflows from upstream areas. Even Jurala is receiving a modest 2,400 cusecs per day from Karnataka, which is experiencing a lack of rainfall in its upper riparian regions. Furthermore, irrigation projects on the Godavari River are facing similar challenges, with no significant inflows from Maharashtra and prevailing dry conditions within the state. The Srisailam project on the Krishna River is also experiencing a lack of major inflows, exacerbating the overall water scarcity issue.
“Average inflows into both Krishna and Godavari rivers are just 8,000 cusecs a day, indicating an extended summer situation,” commented a senior irrigation official. The continued dry spell and insufficient inflows highlight the severity of the water crisis impacting the region. As the state government manages these emergency measures, there is a pressing need for sustainable water management solutions to address the recurring shortages. The situation underscores the importance of long-term planning and resource allocation to ensure the stability and sufficiency of water supplies for Hyderabad’s growing population. The extension of emergency pumping underscores the gravity of the water scarcity issue in Greater Hyderabad. The city’s residents and officials alike hope for timely inflows to alleviate the crisis, but until then, reliance on emergency measures remains crucial for meeting the immediate water demands. The government’s proactive approach and the cooperation of local authorities are vital to navigate this challenging period effectively.
