KTR blames previous regimes for water woes

Hyderabad, Dec 22 (INN): Admitting that many areas in Hyderabad, especially in the Old City, were facing drinking water problem, Municipal Administration Minister K. Tarakarama Rao has blamed the previous regimes for the present conditions.

Replying to a question in the State Legislative Assembly during Question Hour on Thursday, the minister said the State Government was taking corrective steps to improve the water supply position. He assured that the drinking water needs of the city would be met on priority basis. He said he was ready to convene the meeting of city legislators on the issue and the government was also ready to take up short discussion.

Stating that the TRS has won 100 out of 150 seats in the last GHMC elections, he said people have voted for his party on three major issues of drinking water, power and Law & Order and the government would take all possible measures to resolve these issues. He said that the previous Congress Government had spent only Rs. 377 crore on Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) from 2009 to 2014 while during the last two years, TRS Government had spent Rs. 261 crore and sanctioned 7,624 works worth Rs. 448 crore. He said as against the revenue of Rs. 93 crore, the HMWSSB spends Rs. 115 crore in the Old City. He said that the State Government was bearing this additional burden. Further, he said as against 9 lakh connections, only 1.60 lakh have proper metres. Therefore, he said that the government was unable to assess the details of water needs in the Old City. He also listed out various works which were sanctioned for the Old City.

Earlier, the Minister said that the HMWSSB has submitted proposals to the government for replacement of old pipelines in the city. In order to prevent the water contamination, as a part of Water Safety Plan, a study was taken up during 2009-10 to identify the old damaged, defective and leak prone pipes such as RCC, AC, PVC, HDPE, GI etc., about 991 Kms length of pipe line was identified for replacement at a cost of Rs.1152 Crores out of which about 476 Kms length of pipeline has been replaced during 2009-10 to 2013-14.

During 2013-14 a further study was taken up and identified additional 819 Kms length of old and defective pipe line for replacement totalling to (819kms + 515kms) 1334 Kms covering the entire GHMC area. It is to report that about 178 Kms length of pipe line was replaced at vulnerable stretches from 2013-14 to 2015-16. The balance length is about 1156 Kms. Out of which the most leak prone pipes of AC, PVC, HDPE, GI pipes of about 691 Kms exists in the peripheral circles which are now under replacement under peripheral project taken up with HUDCO assistance and the balance length of 465 Kms costing about Rs.502 Crores is yet to be replaced covering the O&M Divisions of core city. It is to report that in a phased manner, the critical and vulnerable stretches are being regularly replaced with available Board Funds and from the releases of Government Budget from time to time, the minister informed.