Water levels down at Singur, Manjira

  • 02/08/2008

  • Deccan Chronicle (Hyderabad)

Hyderabad, Aug 1: Water levels in Singur and Manjira reservoirs have plummeted drastically. With no significant rain even as half the season is over, water board officials are hoping for the best. Singur and Manjira reservoirs have emerged as the two main sources of water supply to the city after the Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs almost dried up. The reservoirs together supply 120 million gallons every day to the city. Water Board officials claimed that they will continue to supply 287 million gallons per day (mgd) to Greater Hyderabad areas even if it is required to pump water from the dead storage of Nagarjunasagar under Phase I and II of Krishna water project. The board is able to draw only 10 mgd from Osmansagar and Himayatsagar. Another 120 mgd is drawn from Manjira and Singur. While 90 mgd is drawn from Krishna Phase-I, as many as 67 mgd is being pumped from Krishna Phase-II. The level at Singur as on August 1 stood at 1,694.29 feet compared 1,702.84 last year. The level in Manjira on Friday was recorded at 1,648.2 ft as against 1,651.75 ft on August 1 the last year. With the Krishna Phase-II still being incomplete, the board is able to draw only 67 mgd of the allotted total 90 mgd. "Though there have been rains off late, neither of the four reservoirs have received any significant inflows till date this season. If not for Krishna water project, the city would have starved of water," Mr S.P. Sarma, Water Board, Director (Technical) said. It is against this backdrop that the Rs 3,500 crore project to bring Godavari river water assumes significance. Greater Hyderabad cannot depend on single or double sources of water to feed its citizens, said Mr Sarma. According to him, the water level at Nagarjunasagar is falling. However, supply will not be curtailed as there would be 300 TMC even in the dead storage of Nagarjunasagar.