The water scarcity threat is looming large in the city of Hyderabad for the first time after the Telangana state formation. During the BRS regime, the city never faced any drinking water shortage in the last ten years. Just two months into the Congress party ruling, the city is glaring at a possible water crisis.
The reduced water levels in Nagarjuna Sagar dam are ringing danger bells much before the onset of the summer season. While the full storage capacity of the dam is 590 feet, currently, the water storage level is 520 feet. More than half of the drinking water needs of Hyderabad are met through Krishna water from the Nagarjuna Sagar. Without pumping, water can be supplied to the city up to a water level of 510 feet.
As summer approaches, the water level in the dam may decrease further. Even in the event of emergency pumping, water can be pumped up only up to the dead storage level. Given the recent Krishna water sharing dispute between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the prospect of water pumping seems uncertain. This uncertainty could potentially result in a drinking water shortage in Hyderabad
To meet the future drinking water needs of the city till 2072, the BRS government has envisioned two projects. One is the Keshavapuram reservoir near Shamirpet under the Kaleshwaram Project, and the second one is the Sunkishala intake well project, which was started to ensure water supply to Hyderabad even in case of dead storage in Nagarjuna Sagar.
Will the Congress government complete these projects to permanently end the water woes of Hyderabad remains a big question now.