CM Revanth to HMWSSB Draft 25-year plan to supply water to Hyd

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy asked the Hyderabad Water Board (HMWSSB) to draft a comprehensive plan to supply safe drinking water to the city’s residents during the next 25 years. The CM was attending the first HMWSSB Board meeting chaired by a CM after the state’s formation.
Highlighting the rapid expansion of Greater Hyderabad, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of preparing to meet the city’s water needs till the year 2050. He emphasised the inclusion of a parallel sewage treatment plan to complement the water supply infrastructure.
During the meeting held at the Integrated Command Control Centre on Friday, the CM directed officials to consult expert agencies and conduct detailed studies for the proposed plans. Officials provided updates on the current water supply, which serves 13.79 lakh tap connections through a 9,800-km distribution network, sourcing water from the Manjeera, Singoor, Godavari and Krishna rivers.
The discussion included plans for Godavari Phase 2, aimed at supplying additional drinking water to Usman Sagar and Himayat Sagar. The meeting discussed pumping water from either the Mallanna Sagar or the Kondapochamma Sagar for the project. Based on consultancy reports and cost-efficiency analyses, the Chief Minister approved sourcing 20 TMCs of water from Mallanna Sagar, an increase from the initially proposed 15 TMCs, to meet the city’s growing requirements.
Water Board MD Ashok Reddy presented a financial overview, highlighting a significant revenue deficit of Rs 8,800 crore. This includes Rs 4,300 crore in unpaid dues from government departments, Rs 5,500 crore in pending electricity bills, and Rs 1,847 crore in loan repayments.
While the income of the Water Board currently covers salaries, allowances and maintenance, the financial outlook remains challenging. The Chief Minister asked the Finance Department to coordinate efforts to address these issues and urged the Water Board to explore ways to enhance revenue generation, such as collecting outstanding dues and securing low-interest loans for upcoming projects.
Officials also reported on the outdated pipelines installed in 1965 to supply water from the Manjeera River, which frequently disrupt supply due to repairs. The Chief Minister ordered the construction of a modern alternative pipeline and suggested using funds from the Centre’s Jal Jeevan Mission to finance the project.
The meeting was attended by officials like the Chief Minister’s Advisor, Vem Narender Reddy, Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, Municipal Department Principal Secretary Dana Kishore, Special Principal Secretary Ramakrishna Rao, Irrigation Secretary Rahul Bojja, HMWSS Board MD Ashok Reddy, GHMC Commissioner Ilambarithi, and the CM’s Special Secretary, Ajith Reddy.